All-out military assault vs Abu Sayyaf goes
beyond Jolo
By Charmaine C. Deogracias and Faber Concepcion
A FORMER
commander of the Marines, who is a veteran in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf, has
warned the government against even considering the cease-fire feelers sent by the
terrorists.
Retired general
Guillermo Ruiz, a security adviser of former chief government negotiator Robert
Aventajado, said the terrorists are not sincere in sending the truce feelers.
“They
(terrorists) already have enough time,” Ruiz said. “I don’t think they are
serious about that. They lack the sincerity so I believe that the military operation
against them should go on.”
Ruiz, who served
30 of his 38 years in the military in Mindanao, also said that the evolution of the Abu
Sayyaf from an Islamic fundamentalist orientation into a engaging in purely criminal
activities like kidnap-for-ransom will eventually lead to the group’s collapse.
While serving in
Mindanao, the retired Marines commandant led his men in several campaigns against the Abu
Sayyaf on Basilan Island. One of the campaigns led to the rescue of a Claretian priest and
the son of a bus magnate abducted by the terrorists.
No sightings
Meanwhile, as the
military offensive entered its eighth day yesterday, authorities said they have made no
sightings yet of the three new Malaysian hostages as well as evangelist Wilde Almeda and
his prayer warriors kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf.
The search has
been intensified also for the whereabouts of American hostage Jeffrey Craig Edwards
Schilling, 24.
Military sources
disclosed that unlike the two French journalists who were rescued Wednesday, the ground
troops and intelligence units have no clues yet as to where the Abu Sayyaf brought the
three Malaysians and Almeda’s group.
Army officials
disclosed that except for Schilling who is believed to have been brought to Basilan, the
16 other captives are being held in the border of Luuk town by the terrorists.
Other leaders of
the Abu Sayyaf have reportedly fled to Basilan a day after the military offensive last
Sept. 9.
The military is
again zeroing in on other island towns of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces as the next
offensive targets, a source told THE MANILA TIMES.
The source, who
talked on condition of anonymity, revealed that few barangays in Pandami, Sulu and an
island municipality of Sapah, in Tawi-Tawi will be the next targets.
These places, the
source added, are a haven of the terrorists involved in the Sipadan hostaging and the
succeeding kidnapping cases.
“They have
participated in the kidnapping in Malaysia and they are the next objective,” the
source revealed.
Strongholds
Reports from the
military intelligence units reaching this city disclosed that a clash has been raging in
Barangay Tayungan, Panamao, Sulu since Friday morning.
The targets, the
source said, include the strongholds of Abu Sayyaf leaders identified as Commander Saptal
in Buhitana in the areas of Kulasi, and Busich Meimbung, Sulu; Commander Aldal in Labanos
Palad in Talipao; Mujib Suskan in Sama, Talipao; Ustadz Ummal Sahiron Tuyang; Commander
Parad and Commander Abraham in Bunot, Indanan; Abu Sabaya and Khadafy Janjalani in Pansul,
Patikul (although reports also have it that they have slipped out of the Sulu and are now
in Basilan).
Commander Robot in
Liang Cave in Barangay Binuang, Talipao; Commander Mubin in Patibulan, at the border of
Sulig Pang and Karungdong, and Suh, Panamao Luuk; spokesman Abu Sabaya in the boundary of
Indanan and Talipao.
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