| Abu Sabaya to
surrender to military SULU, (ABS-CBN) -- After more than twenty days of chasing the Abu Sayyaf bandits
in the hinterlands of Sulu, the military claims it has finally cornered one of the top
leaders of the rebel group.
Officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern
Command said Abu Sabaya has been holed out in Luuk town with several of his men as
government troops close in on their hideout.
AFP SouthCom Commander Lt. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva says
Sabaya has sent feelers for his surrender through emissaries and proper channels.
ABS-CBN sources disclosed that Sulu Vice Governor Munib Estino
has been tapped by the AFP to negotiate for the peaceful surrender of Sabaya.
"Pagod na siguro (They must be tired.),"
commented Sulu governor Abdusakur Tan, upon hearing of Sabaya's imminent surrender.
The military believes American hostage Jeffrey Schilling and
Filipino Roland Ullah are being held by Abu Sabaya group near Luuk in eastern Sulu.
Schilling, from Oakland, California was last seen by villagers
in the area last week and there has been no confirmed recent sighting of Ullah, officials
said.
Schilling , a Muslim convert , told the US embassy in a
telephone call last week that he had been taken by speedboat to another island and said
his captors were demanding a $10 million ransom.
Ullah is the last remaining hostage from a group of 21
tourists and workers abducted April 23 from the Malaysian diving resort of Sipadan off
Borneo.
"We are conducting operations on the group of Sabaya but
lately we have lesser leads as to where the hostages are," confirmed Maj. Gen.
Narciso Abaya.
The military also has little idea where Malaysian hostages Kan
Wei Chong, Joseph Ongkinoh and Mohamed Noor Sulaiman are .
However, Villanuva assured the media over the weekend that all
five remaining Abu Sayyaf hostages are still alive and are heavily guarded by their
captors to prevent escape.
AFP chief General Angelo Reyes vowed to to free the hostages
not later than Christmas and said he will have all the Abu Sayyaf leaders either dead or
captured by that time.
Reyes adds the beleagured bandits have been showing signs of
exhaustion and are willing to give up anytime.
ASG movement spotted in Tawi-Tawi
The military have also confirmed reports that Abu Sayyaf
members have been seen in the island of Tawi-Tawi, sparking fears an armed conflict may
spill over to other areas in Mindanao.
SouthCom chief Lt. Gen Diomedio Villanueva said at least 20
Abu Sayyaf rebels landed in Tawi-Tawi a few days ago.
Villanueva said government troops based in the island province
engaged the extremists in a fierce gunfight.
Despite the Abu Sayyaf's presence in the province, the
military discounted the possibility of a spillover of hostilities. Officials said the
rebels are on the run because of the continuing military offensive in their former lairs
in Sulu and Basilan.
Also, local officials in Tawi-tawi have given the military
their commitment not to allow Abu Sayyaf members to sow fear in the island.
Villanueva added the Abu Sayyaf also has the residents to
contend with as the locals are reportedly planning to counter whatever operation the group
will conduct in their municipality.
"Ang problema pa ngayon ng Abu Sayyaf, kalaban na rin
nila ang mga tao," he said. "Mga civilians na ngayon ang nag-bo-volunteer
ng information sa military tungkol sa mga galaw nila."
[The Abu Sayyaf will also have to deal with the civilians. The
people themselves are the ones reporting rebel movements to the military.]
The SouthCom earlier denied reports that air strikes have been
launched in one of the islands of Tawi-tawi.
Southern Command spokesman Hilario Atendido clarified the
presence of two military platoons in the municipalities of Sibuto and Sitangkai are only
meant to deter possible attacks from Abu Sayyaf rebels who have fled Sulu.
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