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June 5, 2001, The Philippine Star, State of emergency proposed in Basilan,

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Lamitan martial law

June 5, 2001, The Philippine Star, State of emergency proposed in Basilancache

The Arroyo administration is studying the possibility of declaring a state of emergency in Basilan to deal with the escalating hostage crisis involving Abu Sayyaf bandits. 

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao made the announcement yesterday after the military suggested that a state of emergency be declared in Basilan after Abu Sayyaf bandits slipped through a military dragnet in the island-province over the weekend. 

The Armed Forces made the recommendation through spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, who said it would "make things easier" for the military if a state of emergency or even martial law were declared in Basilan. 

"We have no state of emergency. We have no martial law in Basilan or any part of the Philippines which, if it were done, would perhaps make things easier," Adan said in response to criticisms that the military and police bungled their operation against the bandits. 

The military made the recommendation after local officials in Basilan and some residents charged that the containment operation had been botched although the bandits and their hostages were already within the military's grasp. 

On Saturday the bandits managed to slip through a cordon around a hospital in Lamitan, Basilan which the bandits had seized the day before to get medical attention for their wounded. 

But Adan explained that "factors beyond the military's control" allowed the bandits to slip through. President Arroyo also said the bandits had used the hostages as human shields. 

"A state of emergency entails a lot of restrictions. There are legal implications," Tiglao said, stressing that the recommendation is still under evaluation. 

"It's purely a military operation. The areas of actual encounters are limited. So it (a state of emergency) might not (even) be necessary but that question is still being evaluated," Tiglao said. 

Adan explained a state of emergency would help prevent Abu Sayyaf sympathizers from aiding and abetting the bandits and finally put an end to the hostage drama. 

It started on May 27 when a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits raided the upscale Dos Palmas resort on Arrecife island off Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. 

The bandits then took some 20 resorts workers and guests, including three Americans, on a 400-kilometer boat ride to their stronghold in Basilan island but encountered government troopers who pursued them from Tuburan town to Lamitan. 

An Abu Sayyaf "suicide squad" swooped down on the Jose Torres Memorial hospital on Friday presumably to seek medical attention after a running gunbattle with troopers who were tasked to rescue the hostages. 

Some of their captives were able to escape as the military laid siege on the hospital but the bandits were able to slip past the cordon late Saturday, dragging along 50 of the 200 hostages they held at the hospital aside from nine of the 20 captives from Palawan. 

Adan said the bandits were able to break out because of the thick vegetation behind the hospital compound, poor visibility and the presence of bandit units outside of town. 

But according to The Associated Press, a narrow concrete road runs directly behind the hospital, with a small clearing on the other side, followed by a coconut grove where most of the underbrush consists of knee-high grass. 

Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar, a former field commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), said he had already warned of a possible breakout but was ignored by military officials. 

"We are disgusted why these people were able to escape," said Lamitan Mayor Inocente Ramos. "It was a big opportunity for them to hit them but they were able to escape using the backdoor of the hospital." 

But the Palace asked the public not to blame the military because the bandits used hostages as human shields. "They (government troopers) are doing their best to rid this country of this scourge," Tiglao said. 

Tiglao said if the troopers at Basilan had been less professional they would have bombarded the hospital and ended the hostage drama at the cost of so many lives. 

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez also came to the defense of the military and blamed the bandits' breakout on the use of hostages as shields. 

"The problem with the rescue and assault is that the bandits were using warm bodied human beings as shields. So our military and police forces are restrained and that is the reason they are taking in a lot of casualties," Golez said.

Gone wild with the wind

Meanwhile, Adan admitted the military has lost track of the bandits and their hostages. 

"We are looking at Basilan island right now, they could be anywhere but as of now, they are confined in Sampinit complex and moving south," Adan said. 

Military and police sources in Zamboanga City confirmed that the bandits and their hostages have been sighted at the border of Tuburan town and Sampinit complex, a mountain range in the middle of six towns and the capitol town of Isabela. 

The sources said the hostages, including the three Americans, were seen tied to each other to prevent their escape. 

The group was first spotted in Upper Kanas in Barangay Bato-Bato, according to Basilan Rep. Abdulgani "Gerry" Salapuddin. 

"My informant told me that some villagers saw the Abu Sayyaf along with their hostages in Bato-Bato and I'm urging the military to put the pressure and see to it that they could not escape again," Salapuddin said. 

Residents said Bato-Bato was adjacent to Barangay Bulanting where government troopers first encountered the bandits and their hostages before sunrise on Thursday. 

As the military tried to again trace the wily bandits, Filipinos expressed outrage at the beheading of two resort workers who were snatched from Palawan. 

The headless bodies of Dos Palmas employees Sonny Dacquer and Armando Bayona were discovered on the outskirts of Lamitan. 

"These acts of the Abu Sayyaf are condemnable by any standard of civilized society," said Golez. "This is a group that has gone wild and mad already." 

Outgoing Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn extended assistance to the families of Dacquer and Bayona and condemned the brutal and senseless killings. 

Hagedorn said the city will provide transport assistance to bring back the remains of the victims and will also extend scholarships to Dacquer's two children as well as maternity assistance to his pregnant wife. 

Former Speaker and Senator-elect Manny Villar also condemned the killings and urged the military to step up rescue operations for the other hostages."With this despicable act, they have shown their utter disdain for the Filipino people and for human life," Villar said. 

"I commend our soldiers for their bravery and determination that has led to the rescue of several hostages," he said, stressing that the safety and well-being of the hostages must be the utmost priority. 

Julkipli Wadi, a Muslim scholar who teaches Asian studies at the University of the Philippines, acknowledged that it was against Islamic teachings to engage in kidnappings. 

Wadi, who closely studied the speeches of Abu Sayyaf founder Abdurajak Janjalani, said in a television interview late Sunday the group has veered away from Islamic principles. 

Visiting US Sen. Richard Lugar also expressed Washington's fear over the safety of the American hostages -- missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and Guillermo Sobrero. [misspelled] -- by Marichu Villanueva, Paolo Romero and Roel Pareno with reports from Edith Regalado, Jaime Laude, Jess Diaz, Rey Arquiza, Perseus Echeminada, Bandillo ng Palawan News Service

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