/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ August 15, 2004, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf, Pentagon reprisals feared,
August 15, 2004, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf, Pentagon reprisals feared,
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August 15, 2004, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf, Pentagon reprisals feared,
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Military and police forces have been alerted to prepare against reprisal attacks from the Abu Sayyaf Islamist group and the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang.
Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Generoso Senga said the military and the police have been prepared for the possibility of retaliatory attacks from the Abu Sayyaf after 17 of their members were sentenced to death by a Basilan court last Friday for kidnapping three nurses during the June 2001 siege in Lamitan, Basilan.
Officials also stressed the possibility of retaliatory attacks from Pentagon gang members to divert military operations against them after gang leader Tahir Alonto and 18 of his men were killed during air strikes at their suspected hideouts in the marshlands of Salipada Pendatun, Maguindanao the other day.
Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero said residents of Barangay Midpandakan in the town confirmed Alonto and his followers have been killed during the air strikes and were buried in accordance with Muslim tradition.
Col. Franklin del Prado, civil-military relations officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based here, said about a hundred more Pentagon gang members are being pursued by government troops in the Liguasan Marsh sprawling the boundaries of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.
Del Prado said residents saw some of the retreating gang members dragging their wounded comrades.
Local officials here also confirmed Alonto and 18 of his henchmen were killed in the initial gun battles with the military Friday morning.
Brig. Gen. Agustin Dema-ala, commander of the 604th Brigade, said Muslim religious leaders have relayed the exact location where Alonto and his followers were hiding.
"We ought to thank these patriots. They provided us good information in the spirit of mutual cooperation and goodwill. They have obviously grown tired of the criminal, un-Islamic activities of these kidnappers," Dema-ala said.
Del Prado said the new 6th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Raul Relano has ordered all of its units in towns surrounding the vast Liguasan Marsh to secure the communities against possible attacks from the Pentagon gang.
"These kidnappers are known for their treachery and ruthlessness in carrying out retaliations," Del Prado stressed.
He said troops are still checking whether the two hostages seized separately by the gang in November and February were in the village when it was assaulted.
Del Prado said local Army and police commanders also gave assurances that the pursuit operations against the gang members would not spread to neighboring areas — often a concern for both rebels and local officials.
The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels have signed a ceasefire, while negotiators are crafting a political settlement to end more than three decades of Muslim rebellion in Mindanao.
Alonto, a former MILF commander who turned to banditry, was serving a life sentence for murder and kidnapping when he was sprung out from jail in General Santos City in 2000 by his former comrades in the rebel group.
The government has put up a P1 million reward for Alonto's capture.
Triumph Against Terror
President Arroyo said the conviction of the 17 Abu Sayyaf bandits was a "triumph of civilized democracy over terror."
Mrs. Arroyo praised the military and the police on the separate twin victories against terror in the conviction of the 17 terrorists and the neutralization of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang.
"The conviction of the ASG (Abu Sayyaf group) members in Basilan is symbolic of the complete restoration of criminal justice in that province after years of past lawlessness," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"On the other hand, we have used the hand of steel in flushing out the Pentagon kidnap gang," she said.
The 17 Abu Sayyaf bandits were sentenced to death by a Basilan court for kidnapping nurses from a hospital in Lamitan three years ago.
It was the first mass conviction of members of the Abu Sayyaf who have been kidnapping and killing Christians and foreigners in Mindanao for a decade.
The US government also welcomed the prosecution of the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
"It is particularly satisfying to see that justice has been done in the case of terrorists of who have killed citizens of both our countries," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said in a statement.
Mrs. Arroyo, for her part, praised the military for its operations against the Pentagon.
"I commend the military for this operation conducted with nil collateral damage to the civilian community and without prejudicing the peace process," she said.
The military stressed the air strike against the Pentagon strongholds was a law enforcement operation which is not meant to compromise the existing ceasefire agreement with the MILF known to be operating in the area.
Lucero said the MILF leadership had been informed beforehand of the operation through the Coordination Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).
According to Lucero, the MILF had disowned Alonto after he separated from the group and turned to banditry in forming the Pentagon gang along with slain bandit leader Faisal Marohombsar.
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo has also extended her administration’s gratitude to the MILF for cooperating with the military in the operations against the Pentagon gang.
"One good aspect of the operations was that the MILF cooperated with the military because this is part of our (government’s) agreement with the MILF for them to point (out) terrorist hideouts," Bunye said.
"And we hope that we continue to be successful in our campaign to stamp out bad elements in Mindanao," he added.
Bunye, however, did not elaborate how the MILF had helped in the attack on the Pentagon gang, made up largely by former Muslim rebels.
Triumph Against Terror
President Arroyo said the conviction of the 17 Abu Sayyaf bandits was a "triumph of civilized democracy over terror."
Mrs. Arroyo praised the military and the police on the separate twin victories against terror in the conviction of the 17 terrorists and the neutralization of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang.
"The conviction of the ASG (Abu Sayyaf group) members in Basilan is symbolic of the complete restoration of criminal justice in that province after years of past lawlessness," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"On the other hand, we have used the hand of steel in flushing out the Pentagon kidnap gang," she said.
The 17 Abu Sayyaf bandits were sentenced to death by a Basilan court for kidnapping nurses from a hospital in Lamitan three years ago.
It was the first mass conviction of members of the Abu Sayyaf who have been kidnapping and killing Christians and foreigners in Mindanao for a decade.
The US government also welcomed the prosecution of the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
"It is particularly satisfying to see that justice has been done in the case of terrorists of who have killed citizens of both our countries," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said in a statement.
Mrs. Arroyo, for her part, praised the military for its operations against the Pentagon.
"I commend the military for this operation conducted with nil collateral damage to the civilian community and without prejudicing the peace process," she said.
The military stressed the air strike against the Pentagon strongholds was a law enforcement operation which is not meant to compromise the existing ceasefire agreement with the MILF known to be operating in the area.
Lucero said the MILF leadership had been informed beforehand of the operation through the Coordination Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).
According to Lucero, the MILF had disowned Alonto after he separated from the group and turned to banditry in forming the Pentagon gang along with slain bandit leader Faisal Marohombsar.
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo has also extended her administration’s gratitude to the MILF for cooperating with the military in the operations against the Pentagon gang.
"One good aspect of the operations was that the MILF cooperated with the military because this is part of our (government’s) agreement with the MILF for them to point (out) terrorist hideouts," Bunye said.
"And we hope that we continue to be successful in our campaign to stamp out bad elements in Mindanao," he added.
Bunye, however, did not elaborate how the MILF had helped in the attack on the Pentagon gang, made up largely by former Muslim rebels.
He said the MILF's cooperation against the Pentagon gang had improved the chances that the government and the rebels could resume formal talks in Kuala Lumpur soon.
Further Threats
Thirteen of the 17 Abu Sayyaf sentenced to death and life imprisonment by the Basilan court were immediately flown and transferred to the Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City.
The convicts were transported by a plane provided by the Air Force under tight security by police and military escorts.
Four of the suspects who were convicted in absentia, led by Mubbin Ibba alias Abu Black who escaped from a Basilan prison early this year and remained at large.
Military and police intelligence disclosed Ibba was monitored to have been hiding in Zamboanga City with another Abu Sayyaf leader, Amilhamja Ajijul alias Alex Alvarez.
The two were said the be plotting to kidnap businessmen and prominent families in the city on orders by chieftain Khadaffi Janjalani.
Ajijul was tagged as among those who staged the spate of bombings in the city on October 2002 that left 11 killed, including a visiting US soldier, and wounded scores of civilians.
Senga said military ground commanders have been made aware of the possible sinister plot of the Abu Sayyaf.
"We don’t wait for them to make the first action, we continue running after the Abu Sayyaf instead to keep them busy hiding and possibly neutralize them once cornered," Senga said.
For his part, Philippine National Police (PNP) Western Mindanao director Chief Superintendent Servando Hizon made an appeal for the public to remain vigilant.
"We have not lowered our guard because there is always this possibilities the Abu Sayyaf will try to find ways although their ranks are on the run," Hizon said.
Despite of the success of the police and military operations against the bandit group, Hizon said the Abu Sayyaf has shown resilience in resisting all efforts to be completely wiped out.
"We should be always on the lookout against this Abu Sayyaf. Even after their conviction Friday one of them was still defiant trying to boost their morale," he said. — With Christina Mendez, Sandy Araneta, Lito Katigbak (STAR Washington bureau), AP, AFP
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