Philippine Church welcomes release of kidnapped Red Cross worker

(April 4, 2009) The Catholic Church of the Philippines has welcomed the release of a Philippine Red Cross worker held hostage by rebels for more than two months in southern Jolo island. The extremist Abu Sayyaf group on Thursday released one of the three hostages, Mary Jean Lacaba, officials said. "We are happy that at least one of them was released," Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, told reporters on Friday. "Let's hope that the other two will be released in the same fashion without demands and without violence." The Catholic Church has actively sought a solution to the hostage situation that has dragged on for more than two months. On March 30, Pope Benedict XVI appealed for their safe and quick release. Andreas Notter, a 37-year old Swiss national and the head of the Zamboanga City Red Cross office, is still being held by the militants with his Italian colleague Eugenio Vagni, a 62-year old water and sanitation engineer. Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said on Friday his government will do all it can for the safe release of the remaining two but will not give in to unreasonable demands. He said no ransom was paid for the release of Lacaba.