Money, not religious hatred behind abduction threats, Italian missioner says
Davao (AsiaNews) Italian aid worker Andrea Cianferoni was probably taken by "groups who kidnap Westerners to raise money to fund the Mindanao independence movement", Fr Vincenzo Bruno told AsiaNews. Father Bruno is a PIME missioner in Lantian-Lagangan, on Mindanao Island's south-western Zamboanga peninsula (southern Philippines).
The 29-year-old Cianferoni was taken by unknown men at night (local time) near Kauswagan (on Mindanao Island, 810 km south of Manila). His captors demanded a US$ 5,000 ransom. Mr Cianferoni, an agricultural scientist, has been working in Philippines as an aid worker on agricultural projects for Italian NGO Movimondo.
Recently, Father Bruno was forced to leave his parish, Our Lady of Fatima after the Army told him that he was the object of several abduction threats. Father Bruno, who is 65-year-old, is originally from Naples (Italy). He has been in the Philippines for the past 32 years. He is now in Davao getting ready to move to Manila to continue his missionary activities.
Here is his interview with AsiaNews.
What do you think of the abduction of the Italian aid worker?
I am sorry that such a thing could happen, but abducting Westerners happens routinely in Mindanao. Usually, it's some Islamic group that takes hostages to finance the fight for the island's independence. They are not official groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), although they are tied to one another since they know and use each other.
Is there a religious component to these abductions?
I don't think so. They take missioners and Whites because they think they can get ransom money.
Have you ever been threatened with abduction?
(He smiles.) Yes! Recently. On October 19, an army captain came to our mission and told me: "Father, there is a real threat against you. We intercepted the information. They want to abduct you." At that point, they gave an escort of two soldiers and two police officers. Every time I left the parish buildings, they came with me. This went on for a week, but on November 2 I left. It had become too dangerous for me to stay. With the agreement of the bishop and my superiors I was transferred.
How do you feel after leaving your parish?
I felt really bad. My heart still aches. It was sad to leave in the middle of the night without any chance of talking to any of my parishioners of 14 years. I did it so that my would-be kidnappers would not know I was leaving. A Filipino priest is in my place and people have someone to conduct church functions. There are no problems now. (LF)
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