Ranking defense and military officials feted officers and
enlisted personnel of Joint Task Force Sulu and the Western Mindanao Command
for their successful recovery of Swiss birdwatcher, Lorenzo Vinciguerra, at the
hands of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits at Barangay Timpook, Patikul, Sulu
Saturday morning.
First to fete the military units involved in the successful
recovery of 49 year-old Vinciguerra was the Commander-in-Chief, President
Benigno Aquino III.
"(He) has happily received the news and extends his
congratulations to our men and women in uniform who are involved in the
operation, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief
Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said.
Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin has also communicated
his profound thanks to the forces for their relentless efforts and is
encouraging them to continue on as we work towards achieving total peace for
Sulu.
While AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr,
also sent his congratulations and is recommending appropriate commendations for
those who are involved.
He also told the troops to continue on with their efforts
alongside the campaign plan of Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Rustico
Guerrero and Joint Task Group-Sulu under Col. Allan Arrojado.
As this develops, AFP spokesperson Col. Restituto
Padillasaid that Vinciguerra was already flown to Camp
Navarro in Zamboanga City
Vinciguerra said he took advantage of the situation by
escaping from his abductors while the AFP units are conducting intensified law
enforcement operation.
Further, Vinciguerra was intercepted by Joint Task Group
Sulu operating troops and was safely rescued.
He also said that "check wound" sustained by the
victim is from a bladed weapon, not a gunshot wound as earlier reported; apparently
he only had one guard.
"The decision to have him interviewed by the media
there was put on hold because he is still traumatized by what happened,"
Padilla said.
The ASG bandits have seized Vinciguerra together with
Dutchman Ewold Horn, 52, while they were on a bird watching trip in February
2012 in the province
of Tawi-Tawi
The hostages were later moved to the hinterlands of Sulu.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=713518
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