December 12, 2001, The Philippine Star, AFP hits ransom talks with Sayyaf,

December 12, 2001, The Philippine Star, AFP hits ransom talks with Sayyaf,

The Armed Forces warned yesterday that any ransom negotiation with the Abu Sayyaf could endanger the lives of American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, Filipina nurse Deborah Yap, and the soldiers trying to rescue them. 

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao told reporters yesterday he might have erred in identifying Malaysian Sairin Karno as the one who called him up about three months ago asking to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf. 

"Our problem is we will just have to take it that he was Sairin Karno," Tiglao said. "But apparently, from our investigation and return calls, somebody by the name of Yusuf Hamdan has been using the name of Karno. But the two are acquaintances and even associates. We don’t know when it is Karno talking or when it is really Yusuf Hamdan." 

Tiglao said he was ready "to apologize" through the Malaysian government if Karno could prove that somebody had used his name in calling up Philippine officials to make the request. 

"We will apologize if definitely (he) can present or show somebody is using his name and that he was not in contact with Mr. Yusuf Hamdan," he said. "But both have been involved in the Sipadan hostage crisis resolution which some people claimed involved ransom." 

Tiglao said Karno had been calling up government negotiator William Castillo for the past few days to discuss the release of the Burnhams and Yap, trying to broker the payment of ransom. 

Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, Armed Forces Southern Command chief, said troops will arrest negotiators, especially those who are trying to get a share in the ransom. 

"We will arrest those unauthorized negotiators," he said. 

Last week, a captured Abu Sayyaf bandit told military intelligence agents that an unnamed "private negotiator" had been trying to arrange ransom payments for the Burnhams, who have been in captivity for over six months in Basilan. 

Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, Armed Forces spokesman, said yesterday paying ransom for the freedom of the Burnhams would lead to more kidnappings. 

"There’ll be more abductions that will take place as a result of the strengthened capability of this kidnapping group, which means more people would be victimized," he said. 

"It’s a short-term solution that brings about bigger problems. We must all agree that paying ransom is detrimental to the national interest, to the security of our people, and it could be a selfish move too, to say the least." 

Adan said 34 soldiers have been killed in action in the massive military offensive to rescue the Burnhams and Yap from the Abu Sayyaf. 

"We must not forget that no less than 34 soldiers have died in Basilan trying to rescue the hostages....We have paid dearly for this operation," he said. 

Adan said more than 5,000 troops and militiamen are scouring the jungles of Basilan to find the Burnhams and Yap, and destroy the Abu Sayyaf led by Khadaffy Janjalani and Abu Sabaya. 

"As far as the Armed Forces is concerned, there would be no holidays in the campaign to get alive the Burnham couple and neutralize Aldam Tilao (Sabaya)," he said. 

Sen. Panfilo Lacson confirmed last week that he had traveled to Malaysia recently at the request of an "unnamed negotiator" to receive the hostages, but that the release did not materialize. 

Meanwhile, Adan said more US military advisers are expected in the country in the coming months to train government troops to go after the Abu Sayyaf. 

"We expect more American military personnel to visit the Philippines in connection with the agreement for them to help train our troops," he said. 

The previous visits of the Americans were "simply to assess military facilities –where to locate possible barracks for the training of soldiers," he added. 

Two batches of American military advisers made preliminary visits to Zamboanga City and the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Basilan earlier this month and in October.