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May 7, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Abu camp yields 2 headless bodies, by Julie Alipala-Inot,

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Fr. Roel Gallardo victims

May 7, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Abu camp yields 2 headless bodies, by Julie Alipala-Inot, 

ZAMBOANGA CITY--Scout Rangers have unearthed two headless bodies from a shallow grave at an Abu Sayyaf rebel camp in Sumisip, Basilan, a spokesperson of the Southern Command said yesterday. 

"They were hogtied and their heads are missing. According to the Scout Rangers, the bodies were decomposing . . . They were probably killed more than a week or two ago," Col. Hilario Atendido said. 

The report gave credence to an earlier claim of the Abu Sayyaf extremist rebels that they beheaded two hostages on or about April 19 as their birthday gift to President Estrada. Atendido said the two bodies were dug up Saturday noon at the Abu Sayyaf's Camp Abdurazzak on Mt. Mahadji, which the military overran on Wednesday in a bid to rescue 31 hostages whom the rebels seized nearly seven weeks ago. 

During the military operation, government forces managed to rescue 16 hostages but the Abu Sayyaf extremists slaughtered Fr. Rhoel Gallardo and three teachers--Editha LumomeAnnabelle Mendoza and Ruben Democrito- -as they escaped. 

Atendido said the headless bodies could be those of teachers Dante Uban and Nelson Enriquez, two of the 11 hostages who remain unaccounted for. If Atendido's suspicions are correct, that would leave only nine hostages still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf. Atendido said the two bodies would be transported to Isabela, Basilan, and ''turned over to the local authorities for possible identification.'' 

Teacher Rosebert Ajon, one of those rescued, said the rebels separated Uban and Enriquez from the group on April 20. ''We thought they were ordered to get water or do something, but we never saw them or heard from them again,'' said Ajon whose wife Lydda was also among those rescued on Wednesday. 
 Ajons 

The Ajons yesterday celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary inside the Southern Command's Camp Navarro Hospital where they and three other rescued hostages are recuperating. ''We feel very happy that we are both alive . . . We thought we could not make it,'' Rosebert said. 

While the Ajons were enjoying what they called their ''second lease'' on life, 12-year-old Emelyn Cachuela is fighting for hers. Cachuela, who was caught in the crossfire during the rescue operation, sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Her kidney, which was hit by a shrapnel, had to be removed. 

"She's in a critical condition and we are always monitoring her for any development," a military doctor said. President Estrada is scheduled to visit today the five hostages and 59 government soldiers who were wounded in the rescue operation. 

Mr. Estrada is also scheduled to meet with government and military officials to assess the situation. Gen. Angelo Reyes, Armed Forces chief of staff, said the 59 soldiers who were wounded would be promoted one rank. They will also receive cash incentives ranging from P10,000 to P20,000 depending on the seriousness of their wounds. The families of those killed will receive P50,000 each. 

No let-up 

Brig. Gen. Narciso Abayachief of the First Tabak Division, said there would be no let-up in the military's pursuit and rescue operations. ''That's the clamor of majority of the Basileños . . . We are not going to stop until we can neutralize this group and recover the remaining hostages,'' Abaya said. 

He denied reports that Abu Sayyaf leader Khaddafy Janjalani and his spokesperson Abu Ahmad Salayuddin (real name: Aldam Asmad Abdulaup Tilao) were killed in an encounter with government troops on May 2. Col. Saulito Aromin, chief of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, also denied reports that six of the children being held hostage were killed in a crossfire. 

"We have thoroughly scoured the areas, we did not see any lifeless body there except for the pool of blood. I don't think the children were killed," Aromin told the INQUIRER. 

Gallardo 

The body of Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, which was brought here from Isabela, Basilan, on Saturday, will be flown to his hometown in Zambales today. Prior to Gallardo's assignment as parish priest of Tumahubong town in Basilan, he served in the towns of Surabay and Tungawan in Zamboanga del Sur. 

"Every year, something bad happens in Tumahubong, but because of his bravery, he still decided to stay in that place," Basilan Bishop Romulo de la Cruz said. In 1998, the Claret School in Tumahubong was burned by armed men. Last year, some lay leaders and Claretian priest Paul Manila were ambushed by armed men, leaving two persons killed. 

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