Estrada restates conditions for new Abu talks
By Joel R. San Juan
PRESIDENT
Estrada yesterday said his administration is open for new negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf
provided the Muslim bandits immediately release all the 19 mostly-Filipino hostages.
He, however,
denied receiving surrender feelers from Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot, leader of an
Abu Sayyaf faction holding most of the hostages, saying he only heard about it.
“Well,
if they want to negotiate, they should let go of the hostages first, then that’s the
time we can talk,” the President said in reaction to the report on the supposed
surrender feelers of the bandit.
Andang has been
holding hostage evangelist Wilde Almeda and 11 of his followers in the Jesus Miracle
Crusade (JMC), a religious group, as well as two French journalists and a Filipino
kidnapped from Sipadan Island, Malaysia last April 23.
Andang has
reportedly asked the government for a ceasefire and start a new round of talks for the
release of the hostages.
Retired colonel
Ernesto Pacunio, alias Dragon, had earlier said that Andang had raised to him the
possibility of surrender in brief telephone call last Saturday.
Dragon is the main
emissary used by chief government negotiator Roberto Aventajado in the hostage-release
talks with the faction of Andang.
Mr. Estrada also
reiterated his rejection on the appeal of the JMC for a halt in the military assault
against the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
“All we could
do is pray for them,” he said, adding that the evangelists held by the bandits were
responsible for their fate.
Members of the
religious group have vowed to continue with their daily prayer rally in front of
Malacañang until the President listens to their demand for a ceasefire in Jolo.
The President on
Saturday ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National
Police (PNP) to mount an offensive against the Abu Sayyaf following the abduction of three
Malaysians from the Padanan resort off Borneo.
The three
Malaysians are reportedly being held by another faction of the Abu Sayyaf led by Abu
Sabaya.
“I have not
received it yet. I just heard of it but I have not received anything,” Mr. Estrada
said referring to reports that Andang had sent surrender feelers to the government.
Mr. Estrada
acknowledged the possibility that some bandits managed to escape, as the area of operation
is too big unlike in other hostage incidents where the hostage-takers and their victims
are confined in an enclosed place on a building.
He however
assured, “Everything is going smoothly, although of course, in any operations you can
not be assured of perfect execution, because the place is too big.”
But he said that
he has been informed by the military and the police that the Abu Sayyaf bandits are still
in Sulu because of the blockade set up by the Philippine Navy.
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