Sayyaf bandits claim escape from dragnet
A LEADER of one
of the factions of the Abu Sayyaf terrorists strongly hinted yesterday that most of their
members have broken through the military dragnet and they are now out of reach of pursuing
troops.
Self-proclaimed
spokesman of the terrorist group, Abu Sabaya, belittled on nationwide radio the all-out
military assault against the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo, Sulu, even as he bragged “we’re
not affected (by the operation), we’re out of their reach.”
Sabaya’s
statement somehow confirms earlier reports that the military assault came in late as
majority of the terrorists have fled to either Basilan and other islands near Sulu.
Malacañang
immediately dismissed Sabaya’s claim, saying it was convinced the Abu Sayyaf
chieftain and the rest of his gang were still on Jolo Island.
“He’s
still there,” Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said in reaction to Sabaya’s
claim aired by Radio Mindanao Network (RMN).
Sources of THE
MANILA TIMES said on Sunday, Day-2 of the military assault, that more than 70
heavily-armed bandits have fled to Basilan.
Top Defense and
Armed Forces officials said in Zamboanga City the bandits killed remained at 60 with 25
bodies recovered; that there have been 19 engagements so far.
Defense Secretary
Orlando Mercado and AFP chief Gen. Angelo Reyes confirmed that 4,823 families or 13,000 to
14,000 individuals have been evacuated to 11 evacuation centers.
Sulu Gov.
Abdusakur Tan said the bandits have split into small groups to escape pursuing troopers,
and that they have been abandoned by new recruits and volunteers.
The officials
denied reports on hundreds of civilian casualties in the assault.
Troopers bribed
Reports that
majority of the bandits have escaped the military assault somehow bolstered suspicions
among the members of the House of Representatives that the terrorists “bribed”
their way out of Jolo.
House Deputy
Speaker for Mindanao Daisy Avance-Fuentes and Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Lakas, Surigao del
Norte) said they were convinced some military men allowed the escape of the bandits in
exchange for huge bribes.
No less than Rep.
Gerry Salapuddin (LAMP, Basilan) had earlier quipped that the military assault mounted on
Saturday against the Abu Sayyaf bandits “was not entirely meant to rescue the (17
remaining) hostages but for treasure hunting, too.”
The lawmakers also
urged Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen.
Panfilo Lacson to look into the “bribe for freedom” being reportedly employed by
scalawags among the government troops involved in the Jolo operation.
They also sought
the replacement of Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Jose Calimlim as head of the Armed Forces
intelligence agency for “poor performance.”
Schilling
Jeffrey Edward
Schilling, the American held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf faction led by Sabaya and Khadaffy
Janjalani being pursued by thousands of military troops said yesterday they spend most of
the day and night evading the Army but otherwise he is fine.
The relaxed radio
interview with Schilling—the second in less than two days—suggested the Muslim
terrorists were under less immediate military pressure than officials have said, and that
they were already out of Jolo.
On Thursday, a
presidential spokesman said troops had pinpointed the jungle area where Schilling is being
held on Jolo and were moving in on the site.
“There are
hopeful and promising signs that they may be able to get something accomplished in the
very, very near future,” Ricardo Puno said. Schilling said the Abu Sayyaf was “treating
me fine.”
“I have no
problem except now we walk through the jungle because of the operations,” he said.
“That’s really been tiring to walk most of the day and night to avoid the
military.”
Schilling, from
Oakland, California, was among 19 hostages the Abu Sayyaf held on the run across Jolo last
weekend after the military began a major assault to rescue the captives. He appealed in
the interview for a halt in the attack so that negotiations for his release could resume.
Schilling’s
mother, Carol, was telephoned in Oakland by the radio station and also patched into the
interview. She confirmed that the voice was her son’s and asked the rebels to release
him unharmed.
“Jeffrey is
not your enemy and I am not your enemy,” she said.
A faction of the
Abu Sayyaf grabbed Schilling, a Muslim convert, three weeks ago when he visited a rebel
camp with his Filipino wife and reportedly angered rebel leaders during an argument about
religion and politics.
A separate faction
led by Ghalib “Robot” Andang is believed to be holding 16 other hostages,
although a Cabinet official admitted Thursday that the military has lost track of three
Malaysian hostages.
Libya’s
help sought
Using their
satellite phone, the rebels have sought Libya’s help in restarting negotiations, a
Cabinet official said. But the military is not likely to be interested, he said.
The military
announced Thursday that 18 rebels were confirmed dead and 42 others were reported dead but
had not been confirmed. Six government troops were injured in the six days of fighting, it
said.
--with Manny B. Marinay, Joel R. San Juan, Mirasol Ng-Gadil, Maricel V. Cruz and
Faber Concepcion, AP
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