RP military admits hostage rescue bid could last months<\/p>\n
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP): Philippine troops on Sunday
\nswept through remote jungle areas in southern Jolo island in
\nsearch of Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremists holding three Malaysians,
\nan American and one Filipino hostage.<\/p>\n
But 23 days into a much-hyped military crackdown, ordered by
\nPresident Joseph Estrada, Abu Sayyaf leaders had so far evaded
\ncapture by pursuing troops, military officials admitted.<\/p>\n
They said the Abu Sayyaf enjoyed mass support and knew Jolo's
\nrugged terrain, allowing them to outrun an estimated 5,000 police
\nand troops.<\/p>\n
Military officials originally told Estrada they could wrap up
\nthe operation within a week, but later admitted that they had
\nmade tactical errors.<\/p>\n
\"We can make this all over before the end of December,\" armed
\nforces chief, General Angelo Reyes told reporters Sunday, during
\na visit to the military's southern headquarters here.<\/p>\n
Southern command chief, Lt. Gen. Diomedo Villanueva said
\ntroops were scouring the Jolo towns of Talipao, Maimbung and
\nPatikul on Sunday, two days after the government bombed rebel
\npositions to flush out Abu Sayyaf stragglers.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the military said there had been sightings of
\nAmerican hostage Jeffrey Schilling and Malaysians Kan Wei Chong,
\nJoseph Ongkinoh and Mohamed Noor Sulaiman and their captors but
\nthere was no news of a fifth victim, Filipino Roland Ullah.<\/p>\n
The military also said it had widened its search to include
\nislands near Jolo after one Abu Sayyaf member was arrested last
\nweek in the Tawi-Tawi island group, in the southernmost tip of
\nthe Philippines and about 30 minutes by boat from Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Villanueva said the Abu Sayyaf threat \"has been contained\",
\nclaiming that the group had suffered 129 deaths since the blitz
\nbegan on Sept. 16.<\/p>\n
He said the recovery of weapons and equipment left behind by
\nthe rebels was also \"a good sign.\"
\n\"They are low on food, (they have) no medicine and they have been
\non the run,\" Villanueva said. \"They have nowhere to go except to
\nthe recesses of the jungle.\"<\/p>\n
Some \"prominent leaders\" of the Abu Sayyaf had sent surrender
\nfeelers out through an unidentified local official in Jolo,
\nVillanueva said.<\/p>\n
\"We expect them to come out in due time and we are willing to
\nreceive them as they turn themselves in,\" he said.
\n\"We are now moving and are able to reposition our forces fast and
\nrapidly as the situation dictates. The enemy are low on
\nammunition, and despite their show of braggadocio, their fighting
\nability can not match that of our troops.\"<\/p>\n
Estrada, angered by the kidnapping spree which started in
\nApril, last month ordered the assault to rescue some 19 hostages
\nand destroy the rebel group.<\/p>\n
Two French captives, taking advantage of an air raid which
\nsurprised the Abu Sayyaf, were able to escape three days into the
\nassault while 12 Filipino Christian preachers were rescued last
\nweek after a fierce gunbattle.<\/p>\n
Only five of the hostages remain. The military says three of
\nthem -- the Malaysians -- are in the custody of Abu Sayyaf leader
\nGalib Andang, alias Commander Robot, and his ally Mujib Susukan.<\/p>\n
They were last week believed to be trapped in a marshy area in
\nTalipao town, but there had also been reports that they retreated
\ndeep into the jungle and were hiding in caves.<\/p>\n
A senior military spokesman on Saturday said American hostage
\nSchilling had also been sighted, but would not give specific
\ndetails of his whereabouts.<\/p>\n
Governor Abdusakur Tan of Sulu province which includes Jolo,
\nsaid the situation in the provincial capital was \"better than
\nnormal,\" adding that \"there is a good probability all remaining
\nrebels will surrender because of the military pressure.\"<\/p>\n
The hostage crisis began in April, when the Abu Sayyaf
\nsnatched 21 Asian and European hostages from the Malaysian dive
\nresort of Sipadan. All but one of the Sipadan group -- Filipino
\ndive instructor Ullah -- were freed after huge ransom payments.<\/p>\n
The rebels, however, later seized more hostages, including the
\nFrench journalists who escaped and the 12 preachers. Last month,
\nthe group again raided a Malaysian resort and abducted three
\nMalaysian resort workers.<\/p>",
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