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Home/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ June 3, 2001, The Philippine Star, Abus seize hospital, take 200 hostages, by Roel Pareno and Jaime Laude,

June 3, 2001, The Philippine Star, Abus seize hospital, take 200 hostages, by Roel Pareno and Jaime Laude,

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June 3, 2001, The Philippine Star, Abus seize hospital, take 200 hostages, by Roel Pareno and Jaime Laude,

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- An Abu Sayyaf "suicide squad" swooped down on Lamitan town on Basilan island yesterday, taking over a church-hospital compound where they took another 200 people hostage. 

Four hostages, who were kidnapped from an island resort in Palawan seven days ago, escaped from their Abu Sayyaf captors as the military relentlessly pursued the bandits, a number of whom were reported killed in the fierce gunbattle. 

At least two MG-520 helicopter gunships fired rockets and machine guns intermittently throughout the day at the Jose Torres Memorial Hospital, where the bandits herded their victims after they assaulted the nearby St. Peter's Church. 

The bandits threatened to blow up the buildings in the compound along with the hostages, mostly hospital patients, if the military continued its assault. 

But President Arroyo appeared unfazed in a television appearance early last night as she ordered the military to confirm reports that bandit leader Khadaffy Janjalani was killed in an earlier encounter with go-vernment troops in neighboring Tuburan town. 

"The supreme leader of the terrorists, Khadaffy Janjalani, was killed by security forces... (but) we are still confirming this," said Mrs. Arroyo, who also claimed that Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya was wounded. 

The bandits landed in Tuburan after islet-hopping the 400-kilometer distance from Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi island where they stopped over with the 20 hostages, including three Americans, from Palawan. 

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan identified the four rescued hostages as construction magnate Reghis Romero, his companion Ma. Riza Santos, eight-year-old RJ Recio and resort security guard Eldrin Morales, who was reportedly injured. 

The military also announced last night the rescue of10 fishermen the bandits abducted from various islets as they were fleeing from Palawan and Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi islands. 

The 10 rescued fishermen will be presented to media today, the military announced here last night. 

Adan admitted that six government troopers have already been killed and 41 others wounded since Friday but did not identify the casualties pending notification of their relatives. 

He also confirmed that bandit leader Abu Yusuf was killed during the gunbattle. Yusuf was reportedly shot dead by Lamitan councilman-elect, retired Col. Alfredo Baet, who was himself wounded in the gunfight. 

Several armored personnel carriers were readied in the area for a possible assault on the church-hospital compound. 

The bandits responded with grenade launchers and sniper fire from atop the buildings of the compound, pushing back an early attempt to storm the building and free the hostages. 

The bandits swooped down on the town from three different directions around midnight of Friday as government troopers were pursuing them to rescue the three Americans and 17 Filipinos they kidnapped from Palawan. 

The bandits attacked the church and abducted Roman Catholic priests Rev. Rene Enriquez and Rev. Cirilo Nacorda, who was kidnapped by the same bandit group in 1992 and had since been a vocal opponent of the Abu Sayyaf. 

The bandits also nabbed three Dominican nuns, identified only as Sister Sofia, Sister Sonia and Sister Leonarda from the church. 

The bandits used the priests and nuns plus resident physician Daniel Cawley as "human shields" as they withdrew into the hospital. The military, however, could not determine the exact number of hostages nor bandits in the hospital. 

Adan said the Abu Sayyaf's "desperation move" was precisely what the military wanted the bandits to do. 

"It appears we have encountered the main body of bandits. This is the scenario we wanted: to fix them in one location. We have now ringed the place," Adan said. 

But he also said the military operation would have been easier if there were no hostages. 

"We have suffered quite a number of casualties because we are very cautious in our approach as we are after the safe deliverance of the hostages," he said. 

One of the hostages pleaded for a ceasefire. 

"We are with the suicide squad of the Abu Sayyaf. There are many innocent lives who have nothing to do with the situation and they are at risk. Please, please... find another solution and not a military solution," said Teresa Ganzon, one the hostages from Palawan. 

Rolly Adars, a local who was in the hospital when the bandits arrived, told The Associated Press he fled out a door with six children in tow. He said he saw one tall American man, guarded by bandits with rifles and grenade launchers, in the hospital. 

At midday, gunfire slowed in a tense standoff as helicopter gunships hovered overhead. Residents scurried around side streets, staying low to avoid sniper fire while police and soldiers hid behind cover around the bullet-scarred hospital.

'I hope they kill them all'

"The main business district of Lamitan looks like a battleground," said Lamitan Mayor Inocente Ramos as thousands of civilians clogged roads leading out of Lamitan as they tried to flee to safety. 

"I hope they (the military) kill them (the bandits) all," said Lamitan restaurateur Cindy Balisado, who refused to vacate the town and cheered government troopers on. 

"I am not afraid," Balisado said. "If you get frightened you will just give in to what the (bandits) want." 

At Malacanang, Mrs. Arroyo was equally bellicose. 

"Isang bala na lang kayo (It will just take one bullet)," said Mrs. Arroyo during her taped television appearance, as she warned the bandits that they cannot escape the tightening government dragnet. 

Mrs. Arroyo also condoled with the families of those who were killed in the operation against the bandits as well as the residents of Basilan who were affected by the ongoing siege.
She ordered government agencies, especially the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to immediately conduct extensive assistance programs in Basilan and Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, where the rebels stopped over after their kidnapping raid at the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan. 

At the same time, she reaffirmed her standing order to wage "uncompromising, all-out war" against the bandits until all the hostages are released.

"We will pursue these policies until we annihilate the Abu Sayyaf terrorists, capture them or force them to surrender," said Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao. 

"Our operations on Basilan continue and will be sustained until the terrorists are liquidated or until they surrender. Similar operations are going on in Sulu island," he added. 

The military, in the meantime, are building up their forces in Basilan even as they attempt to fend of diversionary skirmishes in nearby Sulu island. Both islands are strongholds of the bandit group. 

"We are building up our troops in the area so that the place will be cordoned off. Our troops are meeting sniper fire from the roof tops of houses near St. Peter's hospital and church complex," said Adan. 

Elite Army Rangers and elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) have already ringed off the town and are anticipating diversionary attacks from bandits who may have been stationed outside the town, he said. 

"Some of them could be positioned safely away from the hospital compound but the AFP and the PNP will continue to exert pressure on the group wherever they might be," Adan added. 

At the same time, Adan warned against immediately believing reports from the field, especially reports that bandit leaders have been killed or injured. 

"They might just be floating the deaths of Janjalani and Sabaya as part of the bandits' escape plan," he said. -- With reports from Marichu Villanueva, Cecille Suerte Felipe

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