FR. GIANCARLO BOSSILANAO DEL NORTE -- Looking thin and haggard, Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi said Friday that he had forgiven the men who kidnapped him and kept him captive for almost six weeks.
Bossi, 57, seized outside his parish in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, on June 10, was turned over to a local politician Thursday night in Karumatan, Lanao del Norte, following negotiations with his Islamic rebel captors.
Bossi told a press conference at Camp Edgardo Batenga in Zamboanga City he has not only forgiven his captors but felt no rancor against them.
He said he lost tens of pounds (4.5 kilograms) after surviving on a diet of salted fish and rice.
The priest wiped away tears as he explained that he was forced to hike at gunpoint through jungles as his captors sought to evade the military hunting for them.
“I used to smoke a lot,” Bossi said, running his hand through his grey beard.
“Then one night we were walking . . . climbing a mountain. When we reached the top of the mountain my breathing was very heavy. So I said to myself I have to stop smoking.”
He said he was forced to board a boat which brought him to nearby Lanao del Norte.
“We changed hiding places sometimes, walking up mountains and crossing fields but we never strayed from there.”
“I memorized their faces and said, ‘If I see any of them around I will go to the police and tell them, ‘That is one of my kidnappers,’” he said.
At Camp Batenga Bossi had noodles for breakfast, which the priest said that it was his first “decent” meal for weeks.
“My plan is to go back to Payao. My heart is still in Payao. As a father, I think I have to go back to my children,” Bossi later said in a new conference aired over ANC.
The priest apologized deeply to the family of the 14 Marines that were killed, 10 of whom were beheading while searching for him in Basilan on July 10.
He said in a television interview that he was treated fairly well by his captors.
Bossi said his kidnappers told him they were members of Abu Sayyaf. But police said Friday that the abductors were members of a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Bossi said his abductors were taking orders from an unnamed person by mobile telephone and were seeking a P50 million ransom to raise money to prepare for an unspecified rebel operation.
“I was the means to get a ransom. That’s what they told me,” he said.
Police insisted no ransom was paid, and Bossi said he did not see any exchange of money.
Bossi said he was released by his kidnappers on the birthday of his 87-year-old mother who is in Italy.
Despite his ordeal, Bossi said he intended to return to his parish where he has worked for a decade.
“My plan from the beginning was to go back to Payao and tell the people that I’m still alive,” he said, wiping away tears and with his voice breaking. “My heart is still in Payao.”
Bossi also said he would visit families of 14 slain Marines.
Later Friday Bossi met with President Arroyo in Malacañang.
He said the President had congratulated him on his courage during his lengthy ordeal.
The President had earlier issued a statement saying: “We rejoice over the safe release of Father Bossi. We thank our soldiers, police and concerned civilians who valiantly worked for his freedom.”
Administration and opposition congressmen commended the safe release of Bossi.
Zamboanga Rep. Antonio Cerilles said Bossi’s release could help the government identify if his abductors were from the Abu Sayaff, the MILF or some other criminal elements.
“That will facilitate efforts to bring them to justice,” Cerilles said.
“Bossi’s case is pure and simple kidnapping. The brutal murder of 14 of our Marines is a separate matter which has to be resolved between the MILF and the AFP or via the negotiating table. The death of soldiers is a cruel reality in a war but it’s a different matter when they are beheaded and mutilated,” he pointed out.
Opposition Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque was impressed with the police and the military for their “excellent, patient handling of the negotiation and safe release of Bossi.” -- AFP, Anthony Vargas, Maricel V. Cruz, Efren L. Danao and PNA
Bossi, 57, seized outside his parish in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, on June 10, was turned over to a local politician Thursday night in Karumatan, Lanao del Norte, following negotiations with his Islamic rebel captors.
Bossi told a press conference at Camp Edgardo Batenga in Zamboanga City he has not only forgiven his captors but felt no rancor against them.
He said he lost tens of pounds (4.5 kilograms) after surviving on a diet of salted fish and rice.
The priest wiped away tears as he explained that he was forced to hike at gunpoint through jungles as his captors sought to evade the military hunting for them.
“I used to smoke a lot,” Bossi said, running his hand through his grey beard.
“Then one night we were walking . . . climbing a mountain. When we reached the top of the mountain my breathing was very heavy. So I said to myself I have to stop smoking.”
He said he was forced to board a boat which brought him to nearby Lanao del Norte.
“We changed hiding places sometimes, walking up mountains and crossing fields but we never strayed from there.”
“I memorized their faces and said, ‘If I see any of them around I will go to the police and tell them, ‘That is one of my kidnappers,’” he said.
At Camp Batenga Bossi had noodles for breakfast, which the priest said that it was his first “decent” meal for weeks.
“My plan is to go back to Payao. My heart is still in Payao. As a father, I think I have to go back to my children,” Bossi later said in a new conference aired over ANC.
The priest apologized deeply to the family of the 14 Marines that were killed, 10 of whom were beheading while searching for him in Basilan on July 10.
He said in a television interview that he was treated fairly well by his captors.
Bossi said his kidnappers told him they were members of Abu Sayyaf. But police said Friday that the abductors were members of a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Bossi said his abductors were taking orders from an unnamed person by mobile telephone and were seeking a P50 million ransom to raise money to prepare for an unspecified rebel operation.
“I was the means to get a ransom. That’s what they told me,” he said.
Police insisted no ransom was paid, and Bossi said he did not see any exchange of money.
Bossi said he was released by his kidnappers on the birthday of his 87-year-old mother who is in Italy.
Despite his ordeal, Bossi said he intended to return to his parish where he has worked for a decade.
“My plan from the beginning was to go back to Payao and tell the people that I’m still alive,” he said, wiping away tears and with his voice breaking. “My heart is still in Payao.”
Bossi also said he would visit families of 14 slain Marines.
Later Friday Bossi met with President Arroyo in Malacañang.
He said the President had congratulated him on his courage during his lengthy ordeal.
The President had earlier issued a statement saying: “We rejoice over the safe release of Father Bossi. We thank our soldiers, police and concerned civilians who valiantly worked for his freedom.”
Administration and opposition congressmen commended the safe release of Bossi.
Zamboanga Rep. Antonio Cerilles said Bossi’s release could help the government identify if his abductors were from the Abu Sayaff, the MILF or some other criminal elements.
“That will facilitate efforts to bring them to justice,” Cerilles said.
“Bossi’s case is pure and simple kidnapping. The brutal murder of 14 of our Marines is a separate matter which has to be resolved between the MILF and the AFP or via the negotiating table. The death of soldiers is a cruel reality in a war but it’s a different matter when they are beheaded and mutilated,” he pointed out.
Opposition Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque was impressed with the police and the military for their “excellent, patient handling of the negotiation and safe release of Bossi.” -- AFP, Anthony Vargas, Maricel V. Cruz, Efren L. Danao and PNA
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