December 28, 2001, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf hostages to be freed in Basilan, not Malaysia — AFP, by Roel Pareño and Paolo Romero,

"They (government forces) are there, then there must be a reason for them to be there. There are signs. The hostages are still in Basilan," Cimatu said. 

"The commanders on the ground are very positive the hostages are still in the Upper Maluso area," he added, referring to a particularly densely-forested area of the Sampinit mountain complex on Basilan island. 

The Abu Sayyaf have been hiding within the area with their hostages, American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipina nurse Deborah Yap, for the past six months. 

Cimatu said media reports that the hostages would be released in Malaysia after the payment of ransom may be part of a disinformation campaign meant to distract government troopers who are scouring Basilan in search of the bandits and their hostages. 

The Southcom chief said Brig. Gen. Glicerio Sua, commander of Task Force Comet, had anticipated that the kidnappers would attempt to slip their hostages out of the island and had prepared counter measures. 

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio echoed Cimatu's remark, describing the reported release in Malaysia as plain rumor. 

"The moment they (the bandits) show their faces there, they will immediately be arrested by the Malaysian authorities. It will be suicide for them even to attempt to enter Malaysia. So that rumor remains a rumor," Teodosio said. 

Cimatu had earlier ordered the rescue operation to continue through the holiday season after his men failed to beat a self-imposed Christmas Day deadline to recover the hostages. 

At least 2,500 combined special operations teams of the US-trained light reaction company, Army Scout Rangers, Special Forces and Marine Force Recon are involved in the rescue operations aside from three brigades which are guarding the foothills near the coast. 

Cimatu admitted that soldiers are disturbed by reports that some unidentified persons are negotiating the payment of ransom for the release of the hostages. 

Rumors of ongoing negotiations for ransom payments have been circulating persistently in the province, adding pressure on Southcom units to rescue the hostages before the bandits are paid ransom which can be used to purchase more firearms. 

Cimatu assured that government troopers are not discouraged by the reported ransom negotiations "and remained unaffected by attempts to negotiate." 

The military announced in October their self-imposed deadline for the hostages’ rescue after a series of positive developments in their operations on the island. 

But the bandits so far continue to evade the military dragnet while unidentified persons commenced negotiations with the bandits for the payment of ransom supposedly amounting to P50 million. 

The Burnhams were abducted, along with fellow American Guillermo Sobero, on May 27 from the Dos Palmas resort off Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and taken to Basilan island.