Sunday, July 08, 2007 Italian envoy to present info on Bossi’s abduction to Parliament By Cheng Ordoñez
ITALIAN Representative and designated Special Envoy (for Fr. Giancarlo Bossi) Margharet Boniver vowed to present the statement and other developments gathered here to the Italian government and the Parliament upon her return to Italy Sunday.
The Inter-Faith Council of Leaders (IFCL) of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement has issued a statement Saturday on the kidnapping of Fr. Giancarlo Bossi and presented it to Boniver.
Boniver arrived in the Philippines to get first hand information on the abduction of Fr. Bossi. He was accompanied by Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Rubens Anna Fedele in their visit to Zamboanga City Saturday.
She expressed deep gratitude for the “extraordinary declaration of love and sympathy on the statement issued by Silsilah’s IFCL and vowed to deliver it to the Italian government and the Parliament.
“We in the Inter-Faith Council of Leaders (IFCL) of Zamboanga City are deeply saddened by the kidnapping nearly a month ago of Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, Pime. We are concerned for his safety and his health, considering the circumstances which now surround him. Fr. Bossi is not a combatant in the ongoing conflict in Mindanao. Fr. Bossi is a missionary priest, far from his home in Abbiategrasso, Italy, who is giving his life in service to the people of Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay,” part of the Silsilah statement reads.
“We invoke the teachings of our Holy Books, the Qur’an and the Bible, and ask those who hold Fr. Bossi to keep him safe and release him immediately. We ask those who have information about Fr. Bossi to cooperate with the authorities working to find Fr. Bossi and arrange for his release.” It further states.
Boniver said she will cause the translation of the Silsilah statement and will publish it in Italy, even as she said the “true meaning of inter-faith dialogue is to further enhance and enrich our different cultures” and that this kind of spirit is imbued in the Silsilah statement.
Fr. Sebatiano D’Ambra, the Italian founder and president of Silsilah Dialogue Movement, who also belong to Pontofico Instituto Missioni Estete (Pime) said the statement was a concerted effort of the Muslim and Christian leaders of the IFCL.
Although he acknowledged Boniver’s effort to bring her appreciation of the statement to the Italian Parliament, D’Ambra said the Special envoy may also have to present “confusions” not only appreciations in the abduction of Bossi when she returns to Italy.
Boniver was also impressed of the Philippine military efforts to rescue the abducted Pime priest but stressed that the search should not be stopped, as the ultimate goal is to “get the release of an innocent citizen.”
Close-door meeting
Boniver arrived in the city with Fedele Friday night via a special flight from Manila in connection with the Bossi abduction in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.
“What I’ve learned so far is very impressive, I believe that the forces deployed on the ground, air and in sea are not only adequate, impressive but I know they are capable soldiers,” the Italian lawmaker said in a brief talk with media upon arrival at the Air Transportation Office (ATO) tarmac.
Mayor Celso Lobregat and District I congresswoman met the Italian officials at the tarmac. From the airport, the officials proceeded to a nearby hotel where a meeting with military and police officials involved in the rescue efforts was held on closed doors.
Boniver refused to divulge to media any information related to the meeting, saying that there has yet to be “an official channel of communication between the abductors and the Philippine authorities.” While there are reports of some “proofs of life” of Fr. Bossi,” she said all these are being verified by forces on the ground.
She said her mission in the Philippines specifically Zamboanga is mostly diplomatic, political and of course friendship. “This really is a reconnaissance mission in which we will exchange views and expertise and when I go back to Italy I will report back to the government, to the Parliament and to the press.”
No ransom
On reports of alleged ransom demand, the Italian lawmaker stressed that it is the policy of the Italian government including that of the Philippines as well as any governments in the world not to talk about the payment of ransom.
“I deny any rumors that ransom could be a subject even to discuss, we’re not here to discuss ransom but to liberate Fr. Bossi as quickly as possible in a safe way so he can be brought back to his family and his parishioners,” Boniver pointed out.
Closer to truth
The Italian official also did not categorically say who is holding the priest, saying that all information passed on to the media is based on raw information. While some reports say that the Abu Sayyaf group is responsible for the June 10 Bossi abduction, other reports indicate that it is a renegade group of the MILF. Whichever version is correct, she said, she could not speculate but hoped that the Philippine authorities will “be able to get even closer to the truth and work for the safe homecoming of Fr. Bossi.”
The Special envoy for Fr. Bossi met with Colonel Jovencio Magalso and Colonel Cristobal of the Task Force Bossi, Western Mindanao Command Chief Eugenio Cedo, other police and military officials from Zamboanga Sibugay, Pime priests, including Mayor Lobregat and Representative Climaco and other city officials.
In Manila the past days, Boniver met with officials from the Department of National Defense, the National Security Adviser, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Interior and local Government, House Speaker Jose de Venecia and President Gloria Arroyo.
In her meeting with the President, the Italian official expressed gratitude for the on-going rescue efforts.
Fr. Bossi, she said, has become a national hero in her country as everybody speaks about him and that the whole country is following with trepidation and hope as well as prayers for the priest’s release.
“I’m absolutely certain that sooner rather than later we would be able, together, to achieve the successful release of Fr. Bossi,” she added.(With Sheila E. Covarrubias)
