Libya won't help Abus
France
offers military assistance to RP
By Joel R. San Juan and Manny
B. Marinay
PRESIDENT
Estrada yesterday assured that Libya would not intervene in the ongoing military offensive
in Sulu against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists.
The Estrada
assurance followed reports that terrorist leader Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot, was
desperately seeking Libya’s help for a ceasefire to stop the offensive.
In Camp
Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said the French government has
offered to provide military assistance to the Philippines, particularly on setting up a
comprehensive program on counter-terrorism.
“Something
good is coming out of this bad experience,” a visibly elated Mercado told a press
briefing, apparently referring to the six-month Sulu hostage crisis which has put the
country in a bad light in the international community.
At the same time,
the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) claimed that the assault on the terrorist lairs is
just a smokescreen for a “more sinister design” to set up an American naval base
on Sulu Island.
“We have
information they are planning to put up a US naval base (in Sulu) in preparation for a
coming imperialist war,” Nero Vallar, Bayan-Misamis Oriental secretary-general, said
in a TV interview with ABS-CBN.
“This
means the Abu Sayyaf is merely being used for this purpose.”
This developed as
the President, in an ambush interview, admitted he had a brief conversation with Libyan
President Moammar Ghaddafi over the phone in which the latter thanked him for the safe
release of the Sipadan hostages.
The President said
the Libyan leader also invited him to visit Libya anytime but he said he would still have
to think about the offer.
“Yes (he
called me up) and I also thanked him for sending his son here. He is inviting me
anytime. Well, I will think it over,” Mr. Estrada said.
On reports that
Robot has been desperately trying to get Ghaddafi to intervene in the military assault,
the President stressed that Libya would not intercede.
“Wala, hindi
siya nakikialam,” the President said.
Meanwhile,
Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora urged Jolo civilians to file complaints before the
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) against government troops who had reportedly committed
atrocities during the operations to recover the 17 remaining hostages held by the
terrorists.
Zamora said the
CHR has set up an office in the area to receive complaints from civilians victimized by
members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He also said the
National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) is now coordinating relief operations to
help residents affected by the assault. “This is in line with the President’s
rehabilitation and development programs for Mindanao, especially in conflict-hit areas.
Talipao and Patikul will get special attention once this is over,” Zamora
said.
Meantime,
Sen.Gringo Honasan disclosed that two other factions of Abu Sayyaf terrorists are
operating in Maguindanao and Sarangani.
He said the
Talayan, Maguindanao-based faction is headed by a certain Mayangkang Saguli alias Barongos
while the one in Sarangani-based is led by a certain Commander Mohammad Haipe.
Haipe reportedly
commands 70 fully-armed men.
Military
cooperation
At the DND,
Mercado said he received a call from French Defense Minister Allen Richard informing him
on a military cooperation they’re interested in forging with the Philippines.
Mercado said he
has yet to figure out if the assistance, focusing on anti-terrorism, will come in the form
of training, equipment or technology.
“We will
discuss the details on how this cooperation will ensue,” he added.
Mercado said he
has agreed “in principle’ with his French counterpart on such a pact, adding
that even President Estrada has been informed by French President Jacques Chirac on the
assistance offer.
“I talked to
the President last night and he welcomed this cooperation,” he said.
Mercado said he
would send representatives to France next week to confer with French defense officials on
the offered assistance.
Criminal
operation
The Defense
official, however, evaded making a comment on the accusations of the recently-freed French
journalists, Jean Jacquez Le Garrec and Roland, that the ongoing military assault against
the bandits in Jolo as “a criminal operation” and that there is no way the Armed
Forces could save the remaining hostages,
Mercado instead
called on the media to stop focusing on quarrels and support the initiative of France to
support the country’s military.
Malacañang,
however, did not mince words and called the two French nationals as ingrates.
Press
Undersecretary Mike Toledo said the government might declare the duo “persona
non grata.”
France had earlier
criticized Mr. Estrada’s decision unleashing a full-scale military assault against
the Abu Sayyaf terrorists who abducted Westerners, including Le Garrec and Madura.
Both Le Garrec and
Madura managed to escape from the clutches of Abu Sayyaf on the night of Sept. 19.
The military recovered them the next day.
--with Macon Ramos-Araneta and Mike Baños
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