Troops corner bandits holding Schilling
MILITARY troops
closed in yesterday on a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits fleeing with an American hostage in
the hills of Jolo island, officials said.
The Abu Sayyaf
band holding Jeffrey Schilling was attempting to reach a beach to escape from Jolo island,
Vice Governor Munib Estino said.
The pursuit of the
rebels resumed after local mayors in Luuk town failed Friday to convince the guerrillas to
release Schilling, Estino said.
Schilling, 24, of
Oakland, California, is being held by a faction led by Abu Sabaya, the extremist group’s
spokesman. Separate factions are believed to be holding three Malaysians and 13 Filipinos.
About 2,000 troops
backed by howitzers, artillery, and attack helicopters were closing in on the 500 rebels
in Sabaya’s group, armed with M-60 machine guns and bazookas, Estino said.
Residents of Luuk
said they saw Schilling being led by the rebels, his ankles and wrists tied with ropes.
Surrender
As this developed,
a lawmaker yesterday demanded the immediate surrender of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Ghalib
Andang alias Commander Robot if he wants to avail himself of “due process of law”
enshrined in the country’s Constitution.
Senator Greogrio
Honasan said the bandit cannot avail himself of his constitutional rights unless he
surrenders or gets arrested in reaction to an appeal of a lawyer—Oliver Lozano—reportedly
hired by Andang for a fair trial for his “client.”
Lozano’s
claim of being Andang’s lawyer has remained unconfirmed.
Andang, along with
Mujib Susukan, held the bulk of foreign and Filipino hostages kidnapped from Sipadan,
Malaysia since April. Most have been released, with Libya and Malaysia reportedly paying
more than $15 million for 19 foreigners.
The government
halted talks and attacked the rebels on Sept. 16 after they kidnapped more people despite
a promise to halt abductions while negotiations were underway.
Schilling, who
converted to Islam in 1994, was abducted four weeks ago when he visited a rebel camp with
his Filipino wife, who is Sabaya’s second cousin. He says the rebels seized him after
they argued over politics and religion.
The military
assault on the rebels has destroyed at least two villages and sent more than 14,000 people
fleeing from their homes, officials said.
First casualty
On Saturday, the
military reported the first death of a soldier and said a commander, Radullan Sahiron, had
been seriously injured. Three other rebels were killed, bringing the confirmed guerrilla
death toll to 28, with 60 others believed dead, it said. Six soldiers have been injured,
it said.
The military has
prevented most journalists from traveling to Jolo to cover the assault and has cut most
communications and transportation links with the island.
Saad Yusah,
spokesman of an influential group of Muslim religious leaders in Jolo, said his group is
asking the government to lift the travel and communication restrictions.
“It seems
this is an undeclared martial law and is unconstitutional,” he said. “This is
coming from the President, so this is an impeachable offense.”
He said the
massive military attack had created fear among the island’s Muslims.
“We’re
afraid to complain,” he said. “If we do, maybe we will just disappear.” The
military estimated when the attack began that it would be over in three to six days.
So far, the main
success of the nine-day assault has been the escape last Tuesday of two French journalists
who were seized in early July.
The government’s
decision to attack the rebels has been widely supported by Filipinos.
-- Macon Ramos-Araneta, Jeanette Andrade with AP
Back to Sipadan/Pandanan Hostages News
Back
to This Week's Borneo News |
