| Abu rebels, Malaysian hostages give military the slip SULU, (ABS-CBN) - Military
officials admitted Monday the Malaysian hostages and their Abu Sayyaf captors have slipped
through the military cordon surrounding their coastal hideout in Talipao, Sulu.
It has been a month since a massive military assault was
launched against the bandits in Sulu province, following the abduction of the Malaysians
in Pandanan Island in Sabah, Malaysia last Sept. 9.
Armed Forces Civil Relations Service chief Col. Jaime Canatoy
said recent reports indicated that the Malaysians were sighted in the vicinity of Panamao,
about 15 kilometers northeast from where they originally held in Barangay Mabahay,
Talipao.
Mabahay is a coastal area in southern Jolo where the hostages,
including the ones abducted from Sipadan Island in Sabah, Malaysia last April 23 were
first brought. It was also in this town that 12 evangelists' led by Wilde Almeda, were
recovered by the military on Oct. 2.
The three Malaysian captives are believed to be held by the
group of Itting Agga, an Abu Sayyaf commander affiliated with Galib Andang alias Commander
Robot.
Canatoy said Agga's group may have been attempting to escape
to another island but could not do so due to the naval blockade in the area.
Canatoy's disclosure was made amid a reported spate of
military victories in its operations against the bandits in Sulu for the past week.
The recent arrest of 36 suspected Abu Sayyaf members in Pugad
Manaol, Bulansi, Lu-uk town followed the surrender of 22 rebels in Jolo, Sulu.
Meanwhile, the military official said there are no plans to
reduce the number of troops in Sulu despite the recovery of most of the hostages,
including two French journalists and the evangelists of the Jesus Miracle Crusade by the
military.
"We will not leave until all the hostages are rescued and
the Abu Sayyaf is neutralized," Canatoy said.
Apart from the Malaysians, the remaining captives include
American Jeffrey Schilling and Filipino Roland Ullah.
Jolo is located at the country's southern tip, about 940
kilometers (580 miles) south of Manila.
The rebels claim they are fighting for an independent Islamic
state in Mindanao, but the government regards them as bandits. They have reportedly
amassed millions of dollars in ransom payment since the hostage crisis began in April.
(With a report from the Associated Press)
Back to Sipadan/Pandanan Hostages News
Back
to This Week's Borneo News |
