| Gov't to sequester
Abu Sayyaf ill-gotten properties ZAMBOANGA CITY (ABS-CBN) - The
government is undertaking legal moves to sequester properties reportedly acquired by the
Abu Sayyaf using the ransom money it amassed from kidnapping activities in Sulu.
Local residents of the war-torn province said the bandit group
has recently bought at least eight house and lot units in Indanan town, Maj. Gen. Narciso
Abaya, commander of the Philippine Army's First Infantry Division (ID) disclosed Friday.
Abaya however said, these reports have yet to be confirmed.
Despite this, Abaya said they are now in the process of consulting legal experts on how
the government can seize the supposed Abu Sayyaf's ill-gotten properties.
Reports are rife that the Abu Sayyaf amassed millions of
dollars during the course of the hostage crisis in Sulu, Mindanao. The group reportedly
demanded $1 million for the freedom of each captive taken from the Sipadan diving resort
in Malaysia last April 23.
Last August, two suspected Abu Sayyaf members were arrested by
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) agents while trying to change some
US$245,000 at the Land Bank of the Philippines in Zamboanga City.
They were later released after posting bail of P120,000 each.
Police authorities in Cebu were also placed on alert after
receiving reports that an unidentified Muslim exchanged US$4,000 in four branches of an
undisclosed bank last October. But follow-up reports have yielded to no arrests.
Meanwhile, Abaya said the government is unlikely to resume any
negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf for the release of remaining hostages -- Filipino Roland
Ullah, the only remnant of the group of Sipadan hostages and American-Muslim convert
Jeffrey Schilling.
Abaya, head of the main military unit that led the siege
against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu last September, explained that because the government has
launched offensives against the bandit group, there should be no more turning back.
"Its no longer a policy of the government to continue the
negotiations since the final option is attack," the military officer said.
Early this week, bandit spokesman Abu Sabaya announced on a
local radio that they are still open for negotiations with the government.
The military has so far initiated 120 attacks against the
extremist group in Sulu and Basilan. Their latest statistics also reveal 192 Abu Sayyaf
bandits have been killed, 13 of whom were sub-commanders.
The government, on the other hand, has so far suffered nine
casualties.
At least 173 bandits have been captured while 229 others
voluntarily surrendered. Close to 700 firearms have been confiscated or destroyed.
The military has also significantly disabled the bandit
group's mobility and communication assets after confiscating 16 four-wheel vehicles, 9
motorcycles and 19 water crafts.
With this, the military is hopeful the bandit group will be
totally neutralized soon and are optimistic they can finish their assault against the
group before the December deadline earlier set by military officials.
(With a report from David Santos)
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