October 13, 2000, BusinessWorld, Military Hostages alive, well, by Ruffy L. Villanueva,

October 13, 2000, BusinessWorld, Military Hostages alive, well, by Ruffy L. Villanueva,

JOLO, Sulu --The military yesterday assured that the five remaining Abu Sayyaf hostages are still alive in Jolo. In a briefing at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Busbus, Jolo, Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo T. Reyes said the hostages--three Malaysian nationals, an American and a Filipino--and their captors are holed up in three "general areas," which are now identified by the military.

"We have good reason to believe that all the remaining hostages are still alive and are still within the island of Jolo," Mr. Reyes said, after meeting with ground commanders here.

For his part, 1st Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Narciso Abaya--who is orchestrating the military offensive to save the hostages--said the three Malaysian hostages are being held by rebel leader Tutting Numan, not Iting Agga as earlier reported, in Talipao town. Jeffrey Craig Edwards Schilling, now under the custody of a new Abu Sayyaf commander, is being in the Luuk-Panamao area.

Mr. Abaya said Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Sabaya earlier this month handed over Mr. Schilling to his sub-commander identified as Munjun Abdurajak. Rolland Ullah is being held somewhere within Patikul town, he said.

Mr. Abaya said the rebels, now in small bands, continue to flee government forces in Sulu, adding they are now weary due to continuous movement and shortage of food, ammunition and other supplies. Meanwhile, Sulu governor Abdusakur Tan said normalcy has resumed in most parts of the province, save for several small far-flung villages where hostilities are concentrated. He noted while the transport blockage has been lifted, cellular service coverage has yet to be restored in Sulu. The military blocked transportation and communication lines in the province when it started its full-scale operation against the rebels. -- Ruffy L. Villanueva