Manila, Philippines, Apr 3, 2009 / 00:06 am
Months after the abduction of three Red Cross workers at the hands of Muslim militants, Christians in the apostolic vicariate of Jolo in the southern Philippines are still living in fear because of the danger posed by mortar attacks, abductions and other violent acts, a local bishop says.
In the past month no fewer than three mortar bombs were fired in Jolo, one of which killed several people. Another damaged the roof of the gymnasium of the Marist-run Notre Dame Boys School, while a third exploded near the base of the Marines Third Brigade not far from the local bishop’s residence, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reports. There continue to be repeated abductions of Christians as well.
On January 15, 2009 Abu Sayyaf militants seized two European and one Filipino Red Cross workers while they were visiting a water sanitation project at a jail. The kidnappers had threatened to behead one of their hostages by March 30, but the threat has apparently not been carried out.
Abductions have been repeatedly perpetrated in order to demand ransom money.