March 12, 2003, The Philippine Star, Philippines says Abu Sayyaf militant escapes military dragnet in Sulu,

March 12, 2003, The Philippine Star, Philippines says Abu Sayyaf militant escapes military dragnet in Sulu, 

Zamboanga City: Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot, slipped away from military troops sent to evict the bandit group from Sulu within 90 days.

Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt-Gen Narciso Abaya said soldiers spotted the groups led by Andang and another Abu Sayyaf leader, Umbra Jumdail alias Dr Abu Pula, a paramedic expert, in barangay [village] Laba, Indanan town Saturday [8 March].

Abaya said fighting ensued between soldiers of the 104th Army Brigade and about 60 members of the Abu Sayyaf. The bandits sustained an undetermined number of casualties, while three soldiers were wounded and airlifted to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Southcom headquarters. He added that the bandits immediately withdrew, dragging away their casualties.

After President Arroyo issued the 90-day deadline for the military to evict the bandit group from Sulu, the Abu Sayyaf used their knowledge of the jungle to elude pursuing military troops.

"They are evading frontal combat," Abaya said.

He noted that there were no sightings of the seven hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf - three Indonesian sailors and four Filipino women evangelists of Jehovah's Witness.

The hostages, Abaya said, are still held captive by the Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron in the jungles of Patikul.

"We are doing some redeployment of forces to meet the 90-day time frame," he said.

Source: The Philippine Star web site, Manila, in English 12 Mar 03