10 Philippine Fishermen Escape From Abu Sayyaf's HandsArmed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Edilberto Adan announced late Saturday, June 2, that the 10 fishermen who were held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group had managed to escape.The fishermen were held hostage while the Abu Sayyaf were escaping from the military's pursuit operation following the abduction of 20 from a resort in Palawan, western Philippines, last Sunday. Adan said offensive operations against the Abu Sayyaf are still ongoing in Lamitan in asilan, southern Philippines, where a hospital are occupied by scores of Abu Sayyaf bandits who suffered heavy casualties during fightings with government troops and supposed to go down from mountains to seek medical treatment in the town. There were sporadic firefights with Abu Sayyaf snipers and military forces in late evening. At least 14 Palawan hostages and several doctors, nurses and patients are still in the hands of Abu Sayyaf, after six hostages were announced rescued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, among them four were identified as tourists and guard of the Dos Palmas resort. Adan was forced to retract the announcement earlier made by Arroyo which confirming the death of Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafy Janjalani. Adan said they will not confirm the reported death until Janjalani's body is accounted for. He also refused to confirm that Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya was wounded. In a nationally-televised address Saturday evening, Arroyo announced Janjalani's supposed death. Earlier reports said Janjalani died at the Jose Maria Torres Memorial Hospital in Lamitan where the bandits are standing-off with government troops. Two more government troopers were killed during a firefight between the government troops and the bandits around 9 p.m. local time (GMT 1300), a radio report said. The latest fatalities brought to eight the total number of government troopers killed during the two-day clash that started Friday. |
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