3 Killed Fighting Muslim Rebels
By AARON FAVILA, Associated Press Writer
JOLO, Philippines (AP) -
Battles between security forces and Muslim rebels holding five hostages on a southern
Philippine island have left three more soldiers dead, the military said Saturday.
The new deaths brought to eight
the number of soldiers killed in the massive rescue operation, which was launched three
weeks ago.
About 5,000 soldiers have been
deployed to various towns on southern Jolo island to rescue three Malaysians, one American
and one Filipino still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf rebels.
The soldiers died in a clash
with Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo on Friday, said Col. Hilario Atendido, spokesman for the
military's Southern Command.
The government said at least
129 Abu Sayyaf members have been killed since the rescue operation was launched Sept. 16.
Atendido said the hostages,
including Jeffrey Schilling of Oakland, Calif., have been sighted for the first time in
more than a week, but he declined to specify the area they were seen.
Earlier this week, soldiers
broadened the search to the neighboring provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, believing some
of the rebels may have escaped.
Atendido said the Malaysians
are being held by Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, also known as Commander Robot, while
Schilling is being held by another faction led by Abu Sabaya, who is also the Abu Sayyaf
spokesman.
Last Monday, troops recovered
12 Filipino Christian evangelists held by Andang's group after one escaped and informed
soldiers of the location of the others.
The Abu Sayyaf began a wave of
kidnappings in March, badly embarrassing the government and tarnished the Philippines'
reputation among tourists and investors.
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