The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Monday called on the Philippine military to abort action that could endanger the lives of their abducted workers in the troubled south.
Abu Sayyaf militants holding Swiss national Andreas Notter, 38, Italian Eugenio Vagni, 62, and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, 37, clashed with soldiers in the jungles of Sulu on Mindanao Island.
The Philippine military said they are verifying information whether a militant group commander, Albader Parad, was wounded in the firefight between the rebels and government troops.
Parad claimed responsibility of the abduction and has demanded the military to pull out from Jolo jungles to give way to the negotiation for the hostages' release.
Military sources said Monday's clash broke out after some Abu Sayyaf rebels tried to break free from the military cordon.
It is not clear how the firefight will affect the hostages' situation.
"We're very concerned to hear about this development in light of the consequences it could have on our staff. Their safety is paramount. We repeat our call that no action should be taken that could put their lives in danger," Alain Aeschlimann, ICRC head of operation for East Asia, South-East and the Pacific, said in a press statement.
"The responsibility for their well-being lies with all those involved in this situation. We do not have any further information at this time about these latest developments. Obviously, we hope that we will be able to speak with our colleagues as soon as possible to know they are okay," the official added.
Notter, Vagni, and Lacaba were snatched at gunpoint on Jan. 15 in Pakitul town on Jolo after the ICRC team inspected local prison sanitation facilities.
The government troops have forged a loose cordon to confine the hostages-holding abductors in a certain area in the hinterland of Jolo, but the authorities said it would not use force to rescue the hostages until all peaceful means are exhausted.
"We were able to talk to Mary Jean, Andreas and Eugenio on Wednesday, March 11. It was our first direct contact with them in almost three weeks so it was very good to speak with all three and hear that they were together. They sounded calm and composed, considering the enormous stress caused by this situation," Aeschlimann said.
At the same time, Aeschlimann said it is incredibly difficult for the victims' families, especially when there is breaking news or conflicting information in the press.
"It's frustrating for everyone that this has gone on for so long. Only the safe and rapid release of our colleagues can bring the families any real relief. Our colleagues and their families have suffered immensely over the past two months. We hope it will not be long before they are home together again," Aeschlimann said.
The 380-member Abu Sayyaf is on the US list of foreign terrorist organizations and is responsible for a series of terrorist attacks and high-profile kidnappings in the country since 2000.
Normally, Abu Sayyaf kidnapped foreigners to exhort funds for the group's operations but observers said the ICRC abduction seems to be a special case and up to now it is not clear what their abductors really want. The authorities have denied that the group has raised any ransom demand, as speculated by local media.
(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2009)