SWISS RED CROSS HOSTAGE GAINS FREEDOM FROM ABU

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000829 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2019 TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL RP SUBJECT: SWISS RED CROSS HOSTAGE GAINS FREEDOM FROM ABU SAYYAF CAPTORS REF: A. MANILA 0812 ¶B. MANILA 0727 ¶C. MANILA 0717 Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The second of three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers kidnapped January 15 on Jolo island in the southern Philippines by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists made his way to freedom early Saturday morning, April 18. Initial reports indicate he escaped from his captors during the night, but subsequent media reports claimed he was intentionally released by his captors or rescued by Philippine military and police. Mr. Notter met with ICRC officials in Jolo and was then flown to Davao city in an aircraft operated by the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines (JSOTF-P). Muslim clerics are reportedly continuing efforts to obtain the release of the remaining ICRC hostage, Italian national Eugenio Vagni, while the AFP and police seek to tighten a security cordon of military and police around the ASG. Post is continuing to monitor the situation and is working to provide logistical and intelligence support requested by the Philippine government. The ICRC Mission head in the Philippines spoke with Ambassador to convey appreciation for rapid USG logistical assistance after the release. END SUMMARY. -------------- CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF HOSTAGE'S ESCAPE -------------- ¶2. (C) JSOTF-P reported that ICRC hostage, Andreas Notter, escaped April 18 from his Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) kidnappers. During a night movement, Notter reportedly became separated from his guards and hid for several hours before making his way to a road where he found an unmanned AFP checkpoint. He waited there until sunrise and then walked to a nearby town where Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) members took him to Sulu Governor Tan's residence at approximately 7:30 a.m. After his meeting with Red Cross officers, JSOTF-P transported Notter to Davao city, and medical personnel examined him enroute. Notter was not able to provide U.S. forces with any clarity on the circumstances of his release. ¶3. (C) Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno told reporters that the kidnappers scattered on Friday when Philippine marines moved toward the ASG encampment near the town of Indanan on Jolo island. What transpired after that is a matter of some confusion. Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro said that police and armed villagers found Notter walking along a road after he had either escaped or had been abandoned by his captors. Another account reports that Notter was rescued when his kidnappers were intercepted as they tried to slip through the cordon of military and police, ringing their hideout. ¶4. (C) ICRC Mission head Jean-Daniel Tauxe told Ambassador that Notter "got lost" while following his ASG captors, and then walked until he found sympathetic civilians. Tauxe said Notter appeared disoriented after his release -- perhaps because the ASG and their captives were constantly on the move. Tauxe added that Notter was physically exhausted and appeared to be suffering from "Stockholm Syndrome" in not wanting to offer details of his captors for fear of revealing their location. Regardless of whether he escaped, was abandoned, or was rescued, Mr. Notter gained his freedom without the use of force. The Philippine government has stated that no ransom was paid. However, local media, citing unnamed sources, report that the government secretly paid a one million Peso (approximately $21,000 USD) ransom for the April 2 release of Filipino hostage Mary Jean Lacaba, although the government has publicly denied that any ransom was paid. -------------- WORKING TO FREE THE REMAINING HOSTAGE -------------- ¶5. (C) With two of the former hostages now free, 62-year-old Italian Eugenio Vagni remains the sole ICRC worker in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf terrorists. Prior to the weekend, five Ulama (Muslim clerics) met with Vagni's captors and by some reports had gained permission to pass medicines to Vagni, who is reportedly in great pain and suffering from a hernia and hypertension. Secretary Teodoro said the Philippine government is "moving with a sense of immediacy and intensifying our efforts to secure his freedom as soon as MANILA 00000829 002 OF 002 possible." The Philippine government claims it has more than 1,000 members of the AFP, police, and armed village guards surrounding the kidnappers' stronghold, and JSOTF-P is continuing to support Task Force Comet in their pursuit of three different ASG groups, including the one that human intelligence sources report contains kidnapping mastermind Albadar Parad and the final hostage, Eugenio Vagni. In response to a request from the AFP, Mission is working with U.S. 7th Fleet to have a P-3 Orion fly reconnaissance missions over the area to help the AFP locate and track the kidnappers. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: As reported in reftels, the Philippine government continues to take a more cautious and disciplined approach to resolve this hostage situation. With Mr. Notter's escape - or release - the military option may have receded further into the background, giving the Philippine government more time to pursue a negotiated solution. At the same time, this kidnapping for ransom underscores the need to redouble efforts to eliminate the ASG once the third hostage is released. The Ambassador has repeatedly emphasized to her Philippine interlocutors U.S. concern for the hostages' safety and the USG's key role in supporting the ICRC. END COMMENT. KENNEY