| Commander Robot
hurt? PASAY
CITY, (ABS-CBN) - Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang (a.k.a Commander Robot) has been
reportedly wounded during an air bombing by the Philippine Air Force in the outskirts of
Maimbong, Sulu last Monday.
Quoting intelligence reports, Senator Rodolfo Biazon Wednesday
revealed that Robot along with undetermined number of his men were seriously injured when
artillery and helicopter gunships swooped down on their hideout.
Furthermore, the senator revealed that the military captured
79 Abu Sayyaf men and seized 28 high-powered firearms during the fierce military assault.
Biazon, chair of the Senate committee on national defense,
disclosed that Robot and his men fled while fighting with ground troops.
They are now believed to be hiding in the thickly-forested
area of the besieged province, Biazon, a former military men, said.
"Reports indicated that Robot and several of his men were
all wounded," Biazon, quoting a field commander in Sulu, said.
Evangelist Wilde Almeda along with 12 members of the Jesus
Miracle Crusade were with Commander Robot when the heavy fighting ensued.
Biazon's military source failed to reveal any information
about the condition of the hostages.
Also, Biazon confirmed sightings of Abu Sabaya's group in the
mountain ranges in Sulu.
American Jeffrey Schilling is a hostage of this faction.
Drilon: Respect human rights
Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon Wednesday warned
the Armed Forces to respect the human rights of innocent civilians while pursuing its
military operations against the Abu Sayyaf.
Although the Senate president is supporting a continued
military offensive, he stressed that the military, including the police, should uphold at
all times the human rights of civilians during an armed conflict.
"...I would like to warn the military to respect at all
times the human rights of civilians (who were) caught in the crossfire," Drilon said.
He advised government troops to be more precise in its
offensives especially in bombing suspected Abu Sayyaf lairs because "civilians will
be surely hurt and their properties unduly damaged."
Drilon said he would support a fact-finding inquiry on the
alleged human rights violations of the military but only after the fighting is over.
"The Armed Forces should be more deliberate and careful
in their bombardment of suspected Abu Sayyaf hideouts...I support an inquiry into (the)
reported violation of human rights in Sulu but it should be done after the military
operation is over," Drilon said.
But Drilon has reiterated the need for a continued military
operation against the Abu Sayyaf.
He stressed a cessation of military offensive by the Armed
Forces would only result to the Abu Sayyaf's regrouping.
Senator Rodolfo Biazon shared these views of Drilon when he
yesterday urged the government for the deployment of more government troops in Mindanao.
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