Senate rejects call for ceasefire
THE Senate
yesterday rejected calls for a ceasefire on Jolo island, where government troops entered
their 12th day assault against the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Senate
President Franklin Drilon and opposition Senator Robert Barbers said a halt in the
military campaign will only allow the terrorists to regroup and regain strength.
Sen. Rodolfo
Biazon, meantime, said he received reports Abu Sayyaf chieftain Ghalib Andang alias
Commander Robot was wounded in air raids staged by the Philippine Air Force on suspected
encampments of the bandits in Liang, Maimbung two days ago.
He said troops
reported that Andang was sighted with hostages Wilde Almeda and his 12 followers in the
Jesus Miracle Crusade.
Moreover, Biazon
said his informant told him that pursuing troops have captured 79 bandits and seized 28
high-powered weapons from the terrorists.
Over at the House
of Representatives, a call for a full-dressed investigation into the Abu Sayyaf hostage
crisis gained grounds.
Solons said they
would zero-in on the government’s handling of the problem, from the alleged payment
of ransoms, the military offensive ordered by President Estrada, alleged human rights
abuses committed by soldiers and the extent of resources used to solve the crisis.
Representatives
Heherson Alvarez (Lakas Party, Isabela) and Ignacio Bunye (LD, Muntinlupa) filed a joint
resolution urging the House to summon top Defense officials, and military and police
officials, to shed light on the government’s handling of the hostage crisis.
A source at the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), meantime, said negotiations for the release of
American hostage Jeffrey Schilling have not ceased in spite of the military assault to
rescue the 17 remaining hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf.
DFA Undersecretary
Franklin Ebdalin said talks for Schilling’s freedom have not stopped, and all that
was rejected was the payment of a ransom.
The US government
has left to the Philippines the steps to take to secure Schilling’s release, Ebdalin
said, adding: “The doors to negotiations had not been closed… even the
military operation going on.”
Atrocities
Drilon agreed with
Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the need to probe alleged atrocities and human
rights abuses committed by soldiers against civilians caught in the cross fire.
Arroyo
nevertheless said government troops should not be blamed for civilian casualties.
She described as
regrettable the death of civilians caught in the cross fire, but added that what the
public must bear in mind is that soldiers and policemen have been trained to protect
non-combatants.
While saying that
he is all for an investigation of reported atrocities inflicted by soldiers on civilians,
Drilon nevertheless added that this should be deferred to a later date or after the
assault against the bandits has been completed.
--Macon Ramos-Araneta, Mirasol Ng-Gadil and Maricel V. Cruz and Charmaine C.
Deogracias
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