| US, France gave
reports on Abu lairs By
Manny B. Marinay
BESIDES
intelligence reports and satellite photos on the whereabouts of Abu Sayyaf bandits on Jolo
Island in Sulu, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has not received any other
assistance from the United States in an assault it mounted against the Muslim extremists
to free 20 hostages, a top military official said yesterday.
He said even
France, which protested the use of military option against the bandits, has supplied the
AFP with satellite reports tracking the location and movements of the fleeing bandits.
The task force
created to go after the Abu Sayyaf has not employed any modern warplanes, artillery or
“high-tech” gadgets in the ongoing operation, the AFP brass said as he doused
speculations on the involvement of the US military in the effort to rescue Filipino and
foreign hostages held by the bandits.
“The
United States will not sacrifice their soldiers in Jolo without sending their warplanes
and other advanced war gadgets they would rely on. Have you seen any American warplanes
there?” the official said as he stressed that the “Philippine military is
capable of exterminating the rebels.”
KL sends
warplanes
The Malaysian air
force has dispatched two fighter jets to beef up security along the waters off northern
Borneo island, but the country’s defense minister said yesterday there were no signs
yet that Abu Sayyaf terrorists were trying to flee there.
Abu Sayyaf gunmen
have twice crossed the narrow strip of water from their strongholds in the southern
Philippines to seize hostages from tiny Malaysian diving resorts off the coastline of
Sabah, a Malaysian state on Borneo, and taken them back to the Philippines.
Malaysia has been
on alert for gunmen or simple refugees trying to flee to safety in Malaysian territory and
Deputy Defense Minister Mohammed Shafie Apdal told reporters that two fighter jets were
sent Sunday to reinforce a squadron based in Sabah.
“When clashes
occur, a situation will arise where people will try to seek refuge,” he was quoted as
saying by the national news agency Bernama. “Patrols need to be stepped up.”
Intelligence
reports
Besides
intelligence reports, the United States also supplied the military with satellite
photographs on the “whereabouts” of the terrorists.
The French
government, which opposed the military action and held the Estrada administration
responsible for the fate of the remaining two French hostages, also reportedly assisted
the military to keep track of the Abu Sayyaf.
The source denied
reports that the US Green Beret commandos were deployed in Jolo to support the government
troops in pounding the rebels’ lair.
“That’ s
not true. The US Green Berets are only here for training. It was pure coincidental that
their arrival timed with the military operation,” the official said.
Reports had it
that US troops were spotted in Zamboanga City, sparking speculations on their deployment
in the assault against the Abu Sayyaf.
Defense Secretary
Orlando Mercado said earlier that the US and the Philippines have an existing agreement on
intelligence sharing on the issue of terrorism, which is their mutual concern.
--with AP
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