June 11, 2002, The Philippine Star, "Abus may grab new hostages", by Jaime Laude,

June 11, 2002, The Philippine Star, "Abus may grab new hostages", by Jaime Laude,

Abu Sayyaf terrorists, who are being pursued by troopers in at least three areas in Western Mindanao after they lost the last of their captives over the weekend, may seize new hostages in a bid to slow down the search and destroy operations against them, the military warned yesterday. 

Retired Maj. Gen. Melchor Rosales, spokesman for the ongoing campaign to wipe out the terrorists, said the military is coordinating with local police and government officials to implement security measures in Basilan, Sulu and Zamboanga del Norte. 

Rosales said about 40 to 60 Abu Sayyaf guerrillas are still in the general area of Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte, where government troopers caught up with them Friday and rescued American missionary Gracia Burnham. 

However, Gracia's husband Martin and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap were killed in the crossfire. 

Four of the terrorists were killed in the rescue operation but the rest slipped into the thickly forested area. 

The military said there was "a great possibility" that the bandits would try to leave Sirawai and head for the open sea and try to regroup with their cohorts in Basilan or Sulu. 

Army Col. Alexander Yapching, commander of troops in the area, said the military was urging residents of the Sirawai area to be vigilant and inform the authorities of suspicious groups lurking in their areas. 

"I instructed our company to conduct an information drive in the villages... We believe (that) will be part of their way in getting out," Yapching said. 

"On their part, they might get another victim for the purpose of having a human shield," he added. 

The terrorists in the Sirawai area are led by Abu Sayyaf spokesman Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, who was among those who seized the Burnhams from a resort island off Palawan on May 27, 2001. 

Sabaya, along with Abu Sayyaf overall chieftain Khadafi Janjalani, brought the Burnhams and 19 other hostages to their jungle lairs in Basilan. They released most of their hostages when they raided a hospital in Lamitan, Basilan where they abducted Yap and two other hospital workers. 

Late last month, the military learned the kidnappers had brought the Burnhams and Yap to Zamboanga del Norte and the military — assisted by US troops — tracked them down in the Sirawai area. 

The military has deployed at least three battalions in undisclosed areas in Western Mindanao even as police stepped up security measures in key areas in the region. 

Among the areas under tight watch are Siocon and Sibuco towns in Zamboanga del Norte, Ipil in Zamboanga del Sur and the barangays of Vitali and Bongiao in Zamboanga City — all areas where the bandits are known to operate. 

Aside from Sabaya and Janjalani, the military is also tracking down Abu Sayyaf leaders Jainal Antel Sali, Isnilon Totoni Hapilon and Hamsitaji Marusi Sali. 

The US government has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of these bandits. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered immigration officials to place the five wanted men on the hold-departure list.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez also ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to coordinate with regional and international law enforcement agencies for a "possible regional or worldwide manhunt." - With Delon Porcalla, Mike Frialde