July 25, 2002, Reuters / The China Post, RP will try Abu Sayyaf guerrillas,

July 25, 2002, Reuters / The China Post, RP will try Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, 

The Philippines said on Wednesday it had first priority on trying any captured leaders of a Muslim rebel group linked to al-Qaida, despite U.S. moves to indict the guerrillas for taking American hostages.

The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) executed one of four U.S. hostages they seized between August 2000 and May 2001, two were rescued and the fourth was killed in a gunbattle between the group and local soldiers.

None of the Abu Sayyaf leaders indicted in the United States and also wanted in the Philippines is in custody.

“The United States indictments are without prejudice to the Philippine courts’ primary jurisdiction over arrested ASG leaders,” the Philippine Department of Justice said.

"The Philippine government stands committed in bringing to the courts of justice individuals such as the ASG leaders, who are responsible for atrocities and terrorist acts in this part of the region," the department said in a statement.

State prosecutor Ricardo Cabaron told reporters: "If they will be arrested, we will insist that they will be tried first here before they will be turned over to America."

Philippine armed forces chief General Roy Cimatu said the rebel leaders faced charges of kidnapping and murder before local courts, "so I think they will have to face their charges here."

"We have jurisdiction over them since the crimes were committed here," Cimatu added.

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson said in Washington on Tuesday a federal grand jury had handed down a five-count indictment against five guerrilla leaders alleged to have masterminded the May 2001 kidnapping of three Americans and 17 others in the Philippines.

Death for Abu Sayyaf

If the defendants were caught, taken to the United States to stand trial and convicted, they could face the death penalty on four of the five counts, U.S. Justice Department officials said.

The U.S. State Department had designated the Abu Sayyaf a "foreign terrorist organization." Those named in the indictment are Khadafi Abubakar Janjalani, Isnilon Totoni Hapilon, Aldam Tilao, Jainal Antel Sali Jr. and Hamsiraji Marusi Sali.

They are charged with conspiracy resulting in death, hostage-taking and three counts of hostage-taking resulting in death. The alleged conspiracy dated back to August 2000, with the kidnapping of American Jeffrey Schilling, who was later rescued.

One of those indicted, Aldam Tilao, more popularly known among Filipinos as Abu Sabaya, was believed killed in a clash with local troops last month.

Washington has linked the Abu Sayyaf to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network and has offered a reward of up to US$5 million for information leading to the capture of the five leaders.

The U.S. embassy in Manila said Washington had made no demands for the handover of Abu Sayyaf leaders, and said Washington was supporting Manila’s efforts to prosecute them.

"There is no such demand," embassy spokeswoman Karen Kelley said on local television.

"We are following the lead of President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo who stated that it’s the intention of the Philippines to bring to justice those... responsible for these crimes and we will certainly be supportive of her efforts."

About 1,000 U.S. soldiers are in the southern Philippines to train Filipinos in fighting the guerrillas, who for decades have waged a militant campaign to create a separate Islamic state.

The training is to end formally on July 31 but the Pentagon says it will continue its close military ties with Manila.

American missionary Martin Burnham, 42, was killed on June 7, but his wife, Gracia, 43, was rescued by Philippine troops in a gun battle with the rebels. Filipina nurse Deborah Yap, another captive, was also killed in the clash.

The Burnham couple, held for over a year, was abducted from a beach resort in May 2001, along with American tourist Guillermo Sobero and 17 Filipinos. The rebels beheaded Sobero weeks later.