RFI - Philippines policemen accused of aiding in Red Cross kidnappings

Philippines policemen accused of aiding in Red Cross kidnappings

Article published on the 2009-04-06 Latest update 2009-04-06 13:23 TU

Philippine Senator and Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon during a news conference in Manila on 3 April 2009.
(Photo: Reuters)

Philippines police on Monday asked for criminal charges to be filed against three policemen accused of helping Islamic militants holding hostage two European Red Cross aid workers. Meanwhile tensions rise between the Red Cross and government officials over how to rescue the hostages.

Jolo police asked state prosecutors to file kidnapping charges in court against the policemen, identified as Muhilmi Ismula, Sattal Jadjuli, and Marcial Ahajan.

Seven suspects including the three police officers have been arrested in connection with an official enquiry into the 15 January abductions on the southern island of Jolo, said provincial police chief Julasirim Kasim.

All seven suspects are accused of belonging to the Abu Sayyaf group, blamed for the worst terrorist attacks in the country, he said.

The kidnappers are threatening to behead Red Cross workers Andreas Notter of Switzerland and Eugenio Vagni of Italy unless they are given control of Jolo, but the government has rejected their demand. A third aid worker, Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, was released last week.

Manila has rejected a total pullout from Jolo, saying it would expose the 645,000 residents of the mainly Muslim island to terrorist attacks.

Philippines Defence Minister Gilbert Teodoro accused the head of the country's Red Cross chapter, Senator Richard Gordon, of sabotaging the government's efforts to free the hostages.

Teodoro criticised Gordon for saying that President Gloria Arroyo would have the hostages' blood on her hands if the kidnappers carried out their threat to behead them.

Gordon refused to back down Monday saying that he had a "personal as well as institutional responsibility" to speak out for the hostages' safety.

"If the hostages are harmed, the door to life will be closed. The Red Cross and humanity will lose. But the loss could be even greater for our nation," he added.