Kidnapped

The media once again focused its lens on the isalnd of Mindanao, specifically in Sibugay, Zamboanga wherein an Italian priest was abducted by members of the MILF. The incident has once again placed the peace and order issue in Mindanao under the scrutiny of the media and the public.

I believe that this incident greatly affects the way the public views Mindanao, the recent abduction along with the intermitent exchange of gunfire betweeen the government and members of the MILF and other muslim groups is hindering efforts of both sides to come to an agreement and finally end the peace and order crisis in Mindanao.
The incident also strained the already fragile relationship between the government and the MILF, the two groups are under a ceasefire agreeement- an agreement that can crumble anytime due to the abduction of Father Giancarlo Bossi.

Negotations between the two parties are underway, however the fate of Father Bossi hangs in the balance. As of Tuesday the military reportedly had the kidnappers surrounded. Yet, it remains to be seen if an armed assault by the military would yield a succesful result or would Father Bossi end up among the thousands of lives claimed by the decades old conflict in Mindanao. However, I think that the government should seek a diplomatic end to this crisis and in the process save the life of Father Bossi and more importantly not aggravate the situation of the peace and order in Mindanao.