Manila (AsiaNews) - Italian Andrea Cianferoni was released this morning by his abductors after he was taken hostage yesterday afternoon at 2:30 in the town of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte in Mindanao.
Cianferoni, 29, is a staff member of the European Union organization, Movimondo, which assists victims of the war that erupted in Lanao four years ago.
He was with two Filipino companions when he was abducted. But after two hours the Filipinos were released, leaving him alone with his abductors which, according to military intelligence, fled to the area occupied by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Muslim separatist rebels, who have been observing a cease-fire and have entered peace talks with the government, helped authorities corner the kidnappers.
It is not clear whether a ransom was paid for Cianferoni's release. Yesterday, Movimondo said that Cianferoni made a 30-second phone call to the agency's office in southern Iligan city hours after he was snatched to say the abductors were demanding a 300,000-peso (US$5,400; euro 4,200) ransom.
At present Cianferoni is in Iligan City, undertaking a medical check-up. After the technicalities, he will be turned over to his organization. (SE)
