ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Seven year old Catholic school girl kidnapped in Jolo, southern Philippines, rescued by security forces

Wednesday, 10 March 2004

Jolo (Fides Service) - Everyone in Jolo, Christians and Muslims, is relieved and happy that seven year old Catholic school girl Rachel Ann Gujit kidnapped on 19 February is safe and sound. In a massive operation on March 9 security forces successfully rescued the little girl, found in good health and now at home with her parents.
After frenetic widespread search and contacts with civilian informers, the 35th army infantry battalion assisted by local police identified the place where the little girl was detained. A remote village in the hills. The kidnappers, said to be a group of ethnic Tausug Muslims, fled before the troops arrived.
The kidnapping caused widespread concern for two reasons: Rachel Ann was the first child taken hostage in this area infested with kidnappers; the school bus driver, a Muslim, did not hesitate to risk his life to protect the child. The little girl was boarding the Notre Dame of Asturias Elementary school-bus when the kidnappers attacked. The driver Abubakar Salip Iston, a Muslim, did his best to save her but was shot dead by the bandits. He leaves a wife and a ten yea old son.
All Jolo was deeply shocked by the kidnapping and murder of the driver. Catholics and Muslims condemned the brutal incident. The local Church was swift to act. The Justice and Peace office of Jolo Apostolic Vicariate made an appeal to the kidnappers and an official request to the local police to provide more protection and to ensure that the criminals are brought to justice.
Calling on the kidnappers to release the little girl, Father Romeo Villanueva head of the JP office said: “Do it in the name of All Merciful Allah, whose judgement you will not escape. Begin to act like true Muslims, offer compensation to the family of the dead driver and release the little girl”. Father Romeo questioned the local Muslim Community: “are you going to allow killings and kidnappings to blacken your name?”.
In Jolo, the stronghold of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, another Christian is still held hostage by one of the many local groups of bandits whose aim is to make money and who usually pick religious personnel and western businessmen. In May 2001 American Protestant missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham were taken hostage: after months of detention the husband was killed but the wife was rescued. In 1997 Bishop Benjamin de Jesus apostolic vicar of Jolo was murdered in front of his cathedral. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 10/3/2004 lines 40 words 444)


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