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October 9, 2000, ABS-CBN, Mercado: Sayyaf accountable for their crimes,

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October 9, 2000, ABS-CBN, Mercado: Sayyaf accountable for their crimes,

QUEZON CITY, (ABS-CBN) - The country's defense chief lambasted over the weekend the secessionist group Abu Sayyaf saying that they will be held liable for their kidnap-for-ransom activities and for the damage they have done to the country's reputation.

Secretary Orlando Mercado made this clear as he said the government has entered the second phase of military operations against the bandits that have been on the run in the jungles of Jolo, Sulu, and the nearby islands.

"(The) second mission for us is to really neutralize, capture or finally make these people incapable of kidnap-for-ransom activities. That is a mission that is still being pursued. And upon instructions of President Estrada, it will be pursued until all the Abu Sayyaf are properly held accountable for their crimes," Mercado said.

He said the Abu Sayyaf, by engaging in kidnapping activities, have done great damage to the Philippines' reputation and dignity.

According to DND chief, the government bent backwards to accommodate the requests of other nations when the Western and Filipino hostages abducted last April from the resort island of Sipadan, Sabah, Malaysia were still being held by the bandits.

Mr. Estrada heeded the requests only to ensure the safety of the lives of the hostages, he said.

But this time, Mercado said, the government would go all-out against the Abu Sayyaf while working for the safe release of the remaining hostages.

"Regardless of how long it takes we will pursue the Abu Sayyaf. Like the Israelis, the Jews after the Holocaust, they decided to go after those responsible for the crimes against their people. We are not going to take four to five decades," he said.

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Angelo Reyes said the Abu Sayyaf extremists have caused the government too much, in terms of lives and property.

He said that since rescue operations for the hostages started last Sept. 16, the government has lost four soldiers, and 10 more wounded. "To us that is important," he said, referring to the lives of the soldiers.

As for the losses in terms of money, he said, "we will get down to computing the pesos and centavos after the situation has stabilized."

"I don't think we can put a peso value on efforts of government to regain its dignity and respect. The Abu Sayyaf has cost us a lot. The kidnap for ransom activities of these bandits have caused (losses to) our economy. (But) it may not be possible to calculate how much they've prevented in terms of investments or tourism (here and in) Malaysia as well. Regardless of what it has cost us, we have to put an end to these activities," Mercado said.

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