The headquarters of the  (ICRC) in  , Switzerland. On Thursday, the reported that three representatives of the  (ICRC) were abducted in . Philippine President  has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police (PNP) to rescue the three victims and conduct an "all-out pursuit" of the militants. “The security forces, both AFP and PNP are in hot-pursuit operations to track down the criminal elements and ensure the safe return of the captives. The elite Task Force Comet under Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban has been tasked to undertake appropriate action on the ground,” said Press Secretary Jesus Dureza. According to a U.S. military official, American soldiers were also providing noncombat "assistance and advice" to the elite Philippine military group on rescue operations. The is one of several militant groups based in and around the southern islands of  , in (Jolo, Basilan, and Mindanao) where for almost 30 years various Muslim groups have been engaged in an insurgency for a state, independent of the predominantly Catholic Philippines. The group, which emerged in the early 1990s, is notorious for its kidnappings. The Group's 340 members remain active in Sulu and Basilan provinces.
The headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva , Switzerland. On Thursday, the reported that three representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were abducted in . Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police (PNP) to rescue the three victims and conduct an "all-out pursuit" of the militants. “The security forces, both AFP and PNP are in hot-pursuit operations to track down the criminal elements and ensure the safe return of the captives. The elite Task Force Comet under Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban has been tasked to undertake appropriate action on the ground,” said Press Secretary Jesus Dureza. According to a U.S. military official, American soldiers were also providing noncombat "assistance and advice" to the elite Philippine military group on rescue operations. The is one of several militant groups based in and around the southern islands of Philippines , in (Jolo, Basilan, and Mindanao) where for almost 30 years various Muslim groups have been engaged in an insurgency for a state, independent of the predominantly Catholic Philippines. The group, which emerged in the early 1990s, is notorious for its kidnappings. The Group's 340 members remain active in Sulu and Basilan provinces.
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International Committee of the Red Cross
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Geneva
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International Committee of the Red Cross
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Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
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Philippines