2 French journalists freed

ZAMBOANGA, (ABS-CBN) -- Military offensives on the extremist Abu Sayyaf lair in Sulu finally bore fruit Wednesday after French journalists Jean Jacques Legarrec and Roland Madura were rescued by combined forces of the 7th Infantry 1st Division of the Philippine Army and the composite batallion of the First Scout Rangers around 6:30 a.m. in Patikul, Jolo.

In an interview over DZMM radio, President Joseph Estrada confirmed the journalists had indeed been freed and are now safe in the custody of the Armed Forces in Camp Bautista, according to field reports from Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Angelo Reyes.

Military forces are now pursuing the Abu Sayyaf faction led by Commander Susukan in Lanao, Dakulap Parang which is south of Parang Hill, Indanan, Sulu.

The successful rescue operation was conducted after five days of heavy fighting in the area which resulted in the deaths of four civilians and six Abu Sayyaf rebels.

Earlier, Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said government troops were actually pursuing two groups of the Abu Sayyaf faction that were holding 19 Filipino and foreign civilians hostage.

One group reportedly hid Filipino hostage Ronaldo Ullah and the 2 French journalists in the mountains of Patikul. The other group, which is reportedly hiding in Talipao, Sulu, is responsible for American hostage Jeffrey Schilling, Malaysian hostages Mohamad Noor Sulaiman, Joseph Jongkinoh and Ah Kai, and twelve Filipinos led by Jesus Miracle Crusade (JMC) founder Wilde Almeda.

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