By Manny B. Marinay and Mirasol Ng-Gadil

Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in Talipao, Sulu yesterday freed five Basilan school-children in exchange for the freedom of seven close relatives of rebel leader Khadaffy Janjalani.

The office of government chief hostage negotiator Robert Aventajado said the extremist group still holds three hostages, the balance of a group of 40 people seized from a Basilan school last March.

After close to three months of captivity, Hazel Kate dela Torre, Joel dela Torre, Jule Padrege, Ian Luset, and Rian Laputan walked away from rebels around 10 a.m. The children are all residents of a coastal village in Sumisip, Basilan.

They were taken into custody by two emissaries of Aventajado and flown to Zamboanga City.

Both emissaries—an unnamed civilian and the vice Mayor of Sumisip had earlier in the day brought Janjalani’s seven relatives to Sulu, after their release from a vigilante band.

Aventajado turned over the children to their families yesterday afternoon at the Edwin Adrew air base in Zamboanga City.

Doctors who examined the free captives said they were tired and overwrought but otherwise in good health.

Sumisip town folk wept for joy following news of the release.

But their celebration was tempered with sorrow for three children and two teachers still languishing from wounds sustained during a military rescue operation last month.

The five badly-injured Basilan hostages remain confined in Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center in Quezon City

and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) has launched an aid campaign for their families.

Aventajado identified Janjalani’s relatives as his sister Atika Abdurasid, mother Vilma,  Alimag Gashil Abdurazid; Ikmaitan Abdurazid; Karima Jalman, also Janjalani’s sister, and her daughter, one-and-a-half year-old  Citi; and Zoraida Hamsa-in

Janjalani’s father-in-law, Ustadz Hussien Banatag, facilitated their release.

Aventajado, President Estrada’s flagship adviser, said no money was involved in the hostage of release.

The rebels are still holding two teachers and the son of a soldier.

In Manila, Dr. Adelfo Trinidad, director, DECS School Health and Nutrition Center (SHNC), said five Basilan hostages have been confined since May 7.

The gun battle that led to the rescue of the hostages in Lantawan, five towns away from the original hostage site of Sumisip, left student Evelyn Cachuela with spinal cord injuries. She is now paralyzed from waist down.

Two other students, Christy Vergara and Jovelyn Emo still have bullets or shrapnel in their bodies.

Trinidad said rescued public school teachers, couple Rosebert and Ajon Lydda, also need prolonged medical care. Rosebert is being scheduled for skin grafts. Ajon needs a prosthesis for an amputated left arm. Husband and wife are public school teachers at the Sinangkapan Elementary School.

All five patients need to remain in hospital until their health conditions stabilize, Trinidad said.

“They shall be needing all the necessary support we can give them, especially in terms of providing basic commodities to their family members or relatives who are tending to them,” Trinidad stressed.

“The patients’ families do not have relatives in Metro Manila. They don’t have anybody to rely on for their everyday needs while their patients are still in confinement,” he added.

Education Secretary Andrew Gonzalez, accompanied by assistant secretaries Fe Hidalgo and Ramon Bacani, said private donors have been helping the victims.