RP military admits hostage rescue bid could last months

RP military admits hostage rescue bid could last months

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP): Philippine troops on Sunday
swept through remote jungle areas in southern Jolo island in
search of Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremists holding three Malaysians,
an American and one Filipino hostage.

But 23 days into a much-hyped military crackdown, ordered by
President Joseph Estrada, Abu Sayyaf leaders had so far evaded
capture by pursuing troops, military officials admitted.

They said the Abu Sayyaf enjoyed mass support and knew Jolo's
rugged terrain, allowing them to outrun an estimated 5,000 police
and troops.

Military officials originally told Estrada they could wrap up
the operation within a week, but later admitted that they had
made tactical errors.

"We can make this all over before the end of December," armed
forces chief, General Angelo Reyes told reporters Sunday, during
a visit to the military's southern headquarters here.

Southern command chief, Lt. Gen. Diomedo Villanueva said
troops were scouring the Jolo towns of Talipao, Maimbung and
Patikul on Sunday, two days after the government bombed rebel
positions to flush out Abu Sayyaf stragglers.

On Saturday, the military said there had been sightings of
American hostage Jeffrey Schilling and Malaysians Kan Wei Chong,
Joseph Ongkinoh and Mohamed Noor Sulaiman and their captors but
there was no news of a fifth victim, Filipino Roland Ullah.

The military also said it had widened its search to include
islands near Jolo after one Abu Sayyaf member was arrested last
week in the Tawi-Tawi island group, in the southernmost tip of
the Philippines and about 30 minutes by boat from Malaysia.

Villanueva said the Abu Sayyaf threat "has been contained",
claiming that the group had suffered 129 deaths since the blitz
began on Sept. 16.

He said the recovery of weapons and equipment left behind by
the rebels was also "a good sign."
"They are low on food, (they have) no medicine and they have been
on the run," Villanueva said. "They have nowhere to go except to
the recesses of the jungle."

Some "prominent leaders" of the Abu Sayyaf had sent surrender
feelers out through an unidentified local official in Jolo,
Villanueva said.

"We expect them to come out in due time and we are willing to
receive them as they turn themselves in," he said.
"We are now moving and are able to reposition our forces fast and
rapidly as the situation dictates. The enemy are low on
ammunition, and despite their show of braggadocio, their fighting
ability can not match that of our troops."

Estrada, angered by the kidnapping spree which started in
April, last month ordered the assault to rescue some 19 hostages
and destroy the rebel group.

Two French captives, taking advantage of an air raid which
surprised the Abu Sayyaf, were able to escape three days into the
assault while 12 Filipino Christian preachers were rescued last
week after a fierce gunbattle.

Only five of the hostages remain. The military says three of
them -- the Malaysians -- are in the custody of Abu Sayyaf leader
Galib Andang, alias Commander Robot, and his ally Mujib Susukan.

They were last week believed to be trapped in a marshy area in
Talipao town, but there had also been reports that they retreated
deep into the jungle and were hiding in caves.

A senior military spokesman on Saturday said American hostage
Schilling had also been sighted, but would not give specific
details of his whereabouts.

Governor Abdusakur Tan of Sulu province which includes Jolo,
said the situation in the provincial capital was "better than
normal," adding that "there is a good probability all remaining
rebels will surrender because of the military pressure."

The hostage crisis began in April, when the Abu Sayyaf
snatched 21 Asian and European hostages from the Malaysian dive
resort of Sipadan. All but one of the Sipadan group -- Filipino
dive instructor Ullah -- were freed after huge ransom payments.

The rebels, however, later seized more hostages, including the
French journalists who escaped and the 12 preachers. Last month,
the group again raided a Malaysian resort and abducted three
Malaysian resort workers.