from web site
June 13, 2001, The Philippine Star, Sabaya claims they beheaded American, by Paolo Romero,
A claim by Abu Sayyaf bandits yesterday that they had beheaded one of their three American hostages drew public outrage but failed to stop a military offensive in Basilan.
The military doubted the allegation by bandit spokesman Abu Sabaya that they had executed Guillermo Sobero, a Californian of Peruvian descent, as an Independence Day gift to the government.
As the military moved to verify Sabaya’s claim, President Arroyo vowed that the "gang of butchers and murderers" would be "decimated."
Sabaya’s announcement, made over a Mindanao-based radio network, discouraged Malaysian businessman Yusuf Hamdan from acting as special mediator between the Philippine government and the Abu Sayyaf terrorists as demanded by Sabaya.
The United States Embassy and the Vatican led international condemnation of the alleged beheading of Sobero who was snatched on May 27, along with two other Americans and 17 Filipinos, during a dawn raid on the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan by about two dozen Abu Sayyaf gunmen.
Nine of the hostages either escaped or were rescued by pursuing troopers, while two of the Filipinos were executed, one of them decapitated.
But the bandits snatched 15 more plantation workers Monday and
Sabaya even twitted the Philippine and American governments for demanding the unconditional release of the captives.
"We have released unconditionally one American, our amigo Guillermo, but we released him without a head," Sabaya said, adding
the execution was videotaped and footage would be released.
He has also threatened to do the same to the two other Americans, missionaries Martin Burnham and his wife Gracia from Wichita, Kansas.
Sabaya taunted the President for ordering an all-out war to crush his group. "Tell Gloria to hurry up and solve this with her rescue operation because you might not have any hostages left."
He also threatened to kill Muslim religious leaders called ulamas for criticizing his group by saying their mass abductions and execution of hostages violated the teachings of Islam.
"They should be the first in fighting those that oppress us," Sabaya said. "Now, they are working together with the government. One day, we’ll behead the ulamas, too. If they can escape us, they will not be able to escape Allah."
Sabaya said the beheading of Sobero was done near Tuburan town in Basilan, and told the military to look for the American’s head.
He said he carried out the execution because they felt that the government was insincere in pursuing peaceful negotiations for the release of the hostages.
"We have chopped off his head because we... can see that the government wants to outsmart us with these negotiations. What are we, stupid?" Sabaya said. "So we've cut off negotiations. We will call again when we’ve beheaded another to let them know."
Sobero’s younger brother, Alberto, said officials told him the reported execution was unverified.
"I’m still hoping this is not true," he said. "I ask the Philippine government to exhaust all efforts and continue a dialogue to get my brother back, and all the hostages."
Alberto added that only the eldest of his brother’s four children knew about the kidnapping.
Mrs. Arroyo, who has raised a P100-million bounty for the arrest of the Abu Sayyaf leaders and members, said the Muslim extremist group "tramples on the values of all humanity."
"The reported murder of Mr. Sobero strengthens our resolve to decimate once and for all this cold-blooded bandit group. They did this dastardly act to prove that they are not kids, making empty threats, underlining the ghoulishness and viciousness of the Abu Sayyaf," the President said.
Addressing the Independence Day celebration at the Luneta, Mrs. Arroyo told the people the military was still verifying the report.
"I am praying that this news would turn out to be false. I am still hoping that the Abu Sayyaf’s fear of the wrath of God will prevail," Mrs. Arroyo said.
She added that if the execution was, indeed, carried out, it merely confirmed that the Abu Sayyaf is a "gang of butchers and murderers who have no qualms about killing for cash."
Mrs. Arroyo said the people were angry over the bandits’ wanton disregard for the laws of Christianity and of Islam.
"Let not these bandits think that the government’s resolve is wavering," the Chief Executive said.
She cut short her attendance at the commemorative rites to meet with her Cabinet.
The threat to "decimate" the Abu Sayyaf was the toughest line ever made by Mrs. Arroyo about the recurrent hostage crisis in Mindanao.
Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said the Cabinet agreed to continue the military assault on the Abu Sayyaf.
"The operations are continuing. We can’t say anything further until we find out if the claim is true," Tiglao said of the alleged execution.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva said it was just "a matter of time" before the troops crush the Abu Sayyaf.
For his part, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said the troops will be able to verify Sabaya’s claim "sooner than later."
As of presstime, however, there was still no word from the ground forces deployed to look for Sobero’s remains.
Army Col. Hermogenes Esperon, commander of the military contingent in Basilan, stayed in Tuburan to personally supervise and monitor the search and recovery operations.
Basilan police provincial director Superintendent Akmadul Pangambayan said his men also helped look for Sobero’s body.
Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar has dispatched local villagers to assist in the search.
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