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June 22, 2002, PHNO, President's Statement on Zamboanga Encounter,

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Sabaya

June 22, 2002, PHNO, President's Statement on Zamboanga Encounter


Malacanang, June 22, 2002 San Fernando, La Union - This morning, there was an encounter between a unit of the Special Warfare Group (SWAG) of the Philippine Navy and the main Abu Sayyaf group led by Abu Sabaya aboard a boat, one kilometer off the coast of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte, at 4:30 this morning.

Three Abu Sayyaf members were wounded and jumped off their boat, while 4 others were captured. The captured Abu Sayyaf members confirmed that one of those who jumped into the sea was Abu Sabaya, who was wearing a black sweatshirt. The SWAG team also confirmed shooting the man in the black sweatshirt. Government forces are now scouring the coast for Sabaya, or his body.

I congratulate the Armed Forces for their continuing determination and tenacity to finish off the Abu Sayyaf. Even since Operation Daybreak began, we have seen the best fighting skills and courage among our soldiers. They deserve the accolade of our people.

Our no-ransom, no-negotiation policy is paying off. Terrorists will be hunted down relentlessly wherever they are, in the fastness of the jungle or in the high seas. They will be given no room to maneuver, to hide, or to rest. We will not stop until they are all accounted for.

Bush happy over neutralization of Sabaya group, GMA says SAN FERNANDO, La Union

United States President George W. Bush has expressed gladness over reports that notorious Abu Sayyaf leader and spokesman Aldam Tilao a.k.a. Abu Sabaya and his band of kidnapper-terrorists have been neutralized.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said she had a phone conversation with President Bush, following reports that the military had tracked and fought it out with Abu Sabaya’s group a kilometer off the coast of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte at about 4:30 this morning.

The President interrupted the meeting of the Ilocos Regional Development Council (RDC) here to announce that she "just talked with President Bush."

"He's happy that the Abu Sayyaf (problem) has been solved," she said.

"The Balikatan exercises will be finished on July 31 as scheduled," she added, referring to the joint RP-US military exercises being undertaken in Basilan province, lair of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf.

"But they are ready to schedule the next Balikatan exercises," she said.

Local officials and residents in Basilan and other parts of Mindanao have lately asked the government to extend the stay of, if not permanently allow, American troops participating in the Balikatan in the area.

The President also took time to monitor and report to the RDC meeting the latest developments in the military-Abu Sayyaf encounter.

Interrupting the meeting at times, the President said the military has recovered a satellite phone, dark glasses and bonnet believed to belong to Abu Sabaya, who along with two others, jumped into the sea during the firefight.

One of the soldiers was very sure he shot Abu Sabaya who was wearing a black sweat shirt, and fell down from the boat together with two others, she told the meeting. But Sabaya, dead or alive, has yet to be recovered.

Four others left in the Abu Sayyaf speedboat were captured, she added. Interrogation with the captured Abu Sayyaf members showed their three companions who jumped off the boat had gunshot wounds.

The President congratulated the military for aggressively monitoring the movement of Abu Sabaya’s group who tried to get out of the Siocon, Siraway, Sibuco, Baliguian complex in Zamboanga del Norte.

The military has continued to scour the shorelines for Sabaya's body.

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stevenwarran

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on Nov 21, 12