ICRC Kidnapped Worker Notter freed by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)

After Sulu Governor Abdu Sakur Tan allowed five religious clerics to negotiate for and on behalf of ICRC kidnapped victim Andreas Notter, the victim was released unharmed in the town of Indanan Sulu. Here is the latest update from the Philippine Star, published today:

Kidnappers release 2nd Red Cross worker Updated April 18, 2009 10:03 AM MANILA (Xinhua) -- Abu Sayyaf rebels released the second of three kidnapped Red Cross workers Saturday morning held captive in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, the military said on Saturday.

Sulu-based military spokesman Edgard Arevalo said that Swiss Andreas Notter was found in Indanan town by security forces cordoning off the bandits and now is staying with Sulu governor Abdusakur Tan, who is heading a government Crisis Management Committee tasked to secure the freedom of the International Committee of the Red Cross members.

Notter, together with Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipina Mary Jean
Lacaba were snatched by the rebel Abu Sayyaf group on Jan. 15 in Patikul town
after they inspected a jail project in the Sulu province. Lacaba was released
earlier by the kidnappers on April 2, after 77 days of captivity."He was
released. Based on the information that reached us, Notter was freed, (and) then
he was found in Indanan," said Arevalo. The officer could not say what specific
time the hostage was released."But definitely our troops are still in their
positions, where they are supposed to be. The pressure that we are exerting is
still there, we didn't remove it. Definitely the pressure on them contributed in
releasing their hostage," said Arevalo.Neither did the spokesman give
information about Vagni, the third kidnapped aid worker, on Saturday.He said
earlier this week that Vagni was ill and needed rapid medical
treatment."Intelligence reports reveal that Vagni is afflicted with Hernia. This
is a medical condition that physicians say could be serious and thus requires
immediate medical attention," Arevalo told reporters on Wednesday.

THIS IS GREAT NEWS! Allahu Akbar! Let the World Thank Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Alah for His Mercy and His Justice.

I urge all the other Muslim brothers and sisters in Sulu to further illuminate the minds of the Muslims in that group and release the remaining foreign hostage without any ransom consideration.