Palace won’t intervene with the Sulu local crisis management committee (LCMC) in helping out with the negotiations for the release of Eugenio Vagni, the last foreign volunteer of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that the LCMC “has proven its effectiveness” in handling the kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf Group of the three ICRC volunteers.
He pointed out that Malacañang will maintain the LCMC as the focal point in the Sulu hostage crisis, adding that the committee will continue to receive the full assistance of the entire police force, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
On whether the government will undertake any military offensive against the ASG to rescue Vagni, Secretary Remonde said the issue rests with the LCMC chaired by Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan. (OPS)
