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Philippine President Confident of Military Victory Over Kidnappers
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Saturday, June 2, expressed confidence that a military victory over the Abu Sayyaf bandits is in sight after six of their hostages were rescued by the military in the day.
In a nationally televised speech, President Arroyo warned resisting Abu Sayyaf bandits that it would take only "one more bullet" before government troops "finish them off."
"To the leaders of the Abu Sayyaf, you have nowhere to hide, so it's better for you to release the hostages and surrender," she said.
Six of the 20 hostages kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf rebels from the Dos Palmas island resort in the western province of Palawan last Sunday were rescued amid fierce fighting between the bandits and government troops in Lamitan town in the southern province of Basilan.
A stand-off continues between government forces and the Abu Sayyaf bandits, who are holed up with their remaining hostages in a hospital in downtown Lamitan which they raided early Saturday to obtain medicine and seek medical treatment for some of their wounded members.
After raiding the hospital and a nearby church, the bandits claimed they had taken an additional 200 hostages, including doctors, nurses and patients. But the military and reports put the figure at around 20.
Government soldiers, backed by helicopter gunships and armored vehicles, have sealed off Lamitan and surrounded the hospital compound to prevent the bandits from escaping.
As night fell, a 200-strong special action force of the Philippine National Police, who are reportedly equipped with night version goggles, arrived in the southern city of Zamboanga and were said to be used to pursue the Abu Sayyaf rebels.
Throughout the day, government helicopter gunships fired at the hospital intermittently as ground troops shot at the building from surrounding streets, while the rebels sometimes returned by firing grenade launchers. Fierce fighting forced thousands of local residents to flee the town.
Meanwhile, negotiations were underway to resolve the stand-off in Lamitan. A government-chosen military intermediary has opened communication lines with the Abu Sayyaf bandits, appealing them to reach a peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflict, particularly the safe release of the hostages.
"The negotiations and military action go hand in hand ... These are not to separate actions," military spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan told a news conference in Manila.
Since encounters between the two sides started in Tuburan town in Basilan early Friday, six government soldiers have been killed and 41 others injured, the military said. The military estimated the casualties on the Abu Sayyaf's side were three times that of the government forces.
One of the Abu Sayyaf's leaders, Khadafy Janjalani, was confirmed to have succumbed to gunshot wounds he sustained during a fierce battle with the military.
The bandit group has threatened to execute the hostages if the military continues to attack them, but the military warned them not to do so or "pay a heavy price."
Presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said in a statement that the initial successes of the military validates President Arroyo' policy to wage an uncompromising all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists.
The Abu Sayyaf abducted more than 40 foreigners and Filipinos from neighboring Malaysia's island resorts and from the southern Philippine island of Jolo for ransom. All but one Filipino have either been released after huge ransoms were reportedly paid, or recovered in military rescue operations.
The government will pursue these policies "until we annihilate the Abu Sayyaf terrorists, capture them or force them to surrender, " Tiglao noted.
Strengthening the backbone of the military offensive is the government's offer of a reward totaling 100 million pesos (about US$2 million) for any information leading to the capture of Abu Sayyaf's leaders and lower-ranking members.
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