MILF vows not to assist rival Abu Sayyaf rebels<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' largest Muslim separatist
\nguerrilla group pledged Monday to stay out of the way as a large
\nmilitary task force hunted down rival Islamic rebels holding 19
\nhostages.<\/p>\n
"We condemn their activities," Moro Islamic Liberation Front
\n(MILF) spokesman Eid Kabalu said of the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers.
\n"They are simply lawless elements," he said over radio station
\nDZMM.<\/p>\n
The armed forces launched a massive operation in the Abu
\nSayyaf's southern stronghold of Jolo island on Saturday in a bid
\nto rescue the American, French, Malaysian and Filipino hostages.<\/p>\n
Kabalu said in another interview over radio station DYSS in
\nthe central city of Cebu that the MILF also had a presence on
\nJolo. He said these units "would not lend a hand to the Abu
\nSayyaf."<\/p>\n
"They are giving Islam a bad name," he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Philippine military said on Monday it is
\nrelentlessly pursuing Abu Sayyaf kidnappers in the country's
\nsouth but seemed no closer to finding the local and foreign
\nhostages on the third day of a major assault.<\/p>\n
"We are pursuing operations relentlessly and we're strictly
\nadhering to instructions of the president as far as the conduct
\nof operations is concerned," said military spokesman, Brig. Gen.
\nGeneroso Senga.<\/p>\n
President Joseph Estrada, declaring that "enough is enough",
\nordered the air and ground assault on Jolo island last Saturday
\nafter months of frustration and humiliation at the hands of
\nMuslim rebel kidnappers.<\/p>\n
He has ordered troops to "destroy" them within a week and
\nrescue the hostages. But Senga declined to comment on the
\nprogress, citing operational reasons.<\/p>\n
"Operations are still ongoing, operational details can't be
\ndisclosed for obvious reasons," he said. "There are still no
\nindications that the hostages have been harmed."<\/p>\n
Military sources said two more Abu Sayyaf fighters were killed
\nin a clash on Monday, bringing the total to eight. Twenty had
\nbeen captured while four soldiers and three policemen had been
\nwounded.<\/p>\n
Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said earlier that four
\ncivilians including a child aged 11 had been killed. There was no
\ninformation on how they died.<\/p>\n
"The ground assault is still ongoing. The assessment by the
\nmilitary is that it won't take a week," Mercado said.<\/p>\n
A retired military commander in the south, Delfin Castro,
\nwarned that Estrada's order for results within a week on the
\njungle-clad island of 897 square kilometers (345 square miles)
\nwas "very optimistic." Three months or more was realistic, Castro
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The strike rode the crest of a wave of anger at a group which
\narmed forces Chief of Staff Gen. Angelo Reyes said "has caused so
\nmuch problems and embarrassment to the whole nation."<\/p>\n
Spokesman Senga, giving a briefing after Reyes visited Jolo on
\nMonday, said the Abu Sayyaf split into groups and dispersed at
\nthe start of the attack by 4,000 troops, planes and helicopters.<\/p>\n
Senga stressed that life in Jolo town and some other areas was
\n"very peaceful" but was vague about where fighting was actually
\ntaking place.<\/p>\n
He said he had no reports that the kidnappers and their
\ncaptives might be holed up in hilltop tunnels said to have been
\nexcavated by the Japanese in World War II.<\/p>\n
A senior army official earlier told AFP at least 70 Abu Sayyaf
\ngunmen evaded a naval blockade and escaped to nearby Basilan
\nisland.<\/p>\n
Other senior officials say they believe the gunmen are still
\non Jolo with their captives -- an American, two Frenchmen, three
\nMalaysians and several Filipinos.<\/p>\n
Cargo transport to the island will be allowed to resume
\nTuesday, Senga said, and public phones -- switched off as part of
\na news blackout -- would be reconnected.<\/p>\n
Abdusakar Tan, governor of Sulu province which includes Jolo
\nisland, disputed a newspaper report of 600 casualties in the
\nfierce air bombardment or subsequently.<\/p>\n
"We only know of four civilians confined in the hospital," he
\nsaid, making no mention of any civilian deaths.<\/p>\n
A presidential palace statement said the Health Department had
\nprepared emergency teams in the nearby provinces of Cotabato and
\nZamboanga to take care of civilians and an airlift would be
\narranged if necessary.<\/p>\n
Tan said up to 1,000 families or roughly 4,000 to 5,000 people
\nhad fled their homes.<\/p>\n
Estrada has said the safety of the hostages is "paramount" but
\nFrance still strongly objects to the attack.<\/p>",
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