MANILA, July 18, 2011—An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is appealing for the liberation of kidnap victims in Zamboanga City and urged the public to pray for their safety.
Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, chair of the CBCP’s Public Affairs Committee, said that while authorities are trying to rescue the victims, people should accompany their efforts with prayers.
“Let’s pray for them and the victims. We hope that this will be resolved soon,†said Iñiguez.
Last week, around 14 armed men abducted Filipino-American Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmann, 50, her son Kevin Eric, and a nephew, Romnick Jackaria, 19, at a resort in Tictabon Island, near the city’s southern port.
Although the captors are still unidentified, authorities have already established contacts with them and have demanded $10 million ransom money.
“I don’t know if they (kidnappers) would still listen to this appeal but, still, we want to appeal to their conscience that they release the innocent victims,†said Iñiguez.
The military said Abu Sayyaf bandits are behind the kidnapping after the victims were reportedly brought to Sumisip town in Basilan, a known lair of the Al-Qaeda-linked group. [CBCPNews]
