3 Red Cross Workers Kidnapped in Philippines

By HRVOJE HRANJSKI / AP WRITER

MANILA — Philippine troops searched for three kidnapped Red Cross workers in southern jungles Friday but found no trace of them as fears mounted the kidnappers may hand them over to Muslim militants notorious for demanding ransom.

One day after gunmen dragged a Swiss, an Italian and a Filipino from their vehicle and took them into the interior of Jolo island's mountainous Patikul township area, military and police set up blockades and marines set out on foot in search of the hostages.

Deep mud, thick vegetation and monsoon rains were bogging down the search, and officials were giving few details for fear of jeopardizing the operation.

"That jungle is so dense, you couldn't see each other even at a close distance," Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, head of Jolo's anti-terrorism task force, told The Associated Press by telephone.

He said the gunmen and hostages were headed toward nearby Indanan township, about 18 miles (30 kilometers) away from Jolo town where they were snatched. He said they may turn them over to notorious Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad.

Military spokeswoman Lt Estefani Cacho said troops have failed to catch up with the group. "We believe at this point they are still running. We also have no word regarding any ransom demand."

The kidnapped workers were identified as Swiss Andreas Notter, 38; Italian Eugenio Vagni, 62; and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba, 37. They had traveled to Jolo to inspect water sanitation projects in the provincial jail and in nearby Maimbung township.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said the kidnapping will not stop its activities in the Philippines.

Abu Sayyaf militants are notorious for beheading their hostages and are on a U.S. list of terrorist organizations with links to al-Qaida.

American counterterrorism troops were providing noncombat "assistance and advice" to Philippine forces, a US military official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

It was the most high-profile kidnapping of foreigners since 2001, when Abu Sayyaf gunmen snatched nearly two dozen tourists from a resort, including three Americans. One of the Americans was beheaded, a second was killed during a military rescue operation and the third was rescued. The incident prompted Washington to deploy troops in the south starting in 2002, but they are barred from combat.

In 2000, Abu Sayyaf seized about 20 foreign tourists from Malaysia's Sipadan resort and held them on Jolo for several months before they were released in exchange for millions of dollars, reportedly paid by Libya.