October 4, 2000, ABS-CBN, 1:44 AM, Mission accomplished! -- JMC, [Wilde Almeda]

October 4, 2000, ABS-CBN, 1:44 AM, Mission accomplished! -- JMC, [Wilde Almeda]

QUEZON CITY, (ABS-CBN) - Members of the Jesus Miracle Crusade celebrated the release of their leader Wilde Almeda and 12 of his followers on Tuesday, saying their trip to the Abu Sayyaf lair was a resounding success. 

The 12 preachers were rescued in the jungles of Jolo, Sulu, late Monday afternoon.

Upon their arrival in Zamboanga City on Monday night, the evangelists continued to profess that their release is nothing short of a miracle. They said the end of their captivity was the fruit of endless prayer.

The JMC evangelists, along with their leader Bro. Wilde Almeda also disclosed that they are aware of the criticisms and the insults that were hurled their way when they ventured into the bandits' lair last July.

Weakened by a month-long fast and a supposed stroke, Almeda had to be carried on a stretcher and airlifted to Malacañang on Monday, where he thanked the man whom he had denounced two years ago as unfit for the presidency.

Almeda hardly spoke during the closed-door meeting with President Estrada.

Recounting what he described as "a very emotional" encounter, Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said Estrada held Almeda's hand and stroked his hair as the evangelist expressed his gratitude with "great difficulty."

Lina Almeda, the JMC leader's spouse who was present during the courtesy call at Malacanang, told the President the evangelist was thankful for the rescue, Puno said.

"After that we could see that the pastor was very emotional (and that) his condition was not very good," Puno said. "(Nevertheless) doctors pronounced him in stable condition."

When Almeda was brought to the Heroes' Hall, he was greeted with chants of "Amen, amen" from tearful members of the JMC. They also raised their hands in a gesture of thanks to the President.

The preachers aimed to "pray over" the mostly foreign hostages taken from a Malaysian island resort last April 23. They were later prevented by the Abu Sayyaf from leaving the hideout after their 40-day fast had ended.

The group was also made to pay an "entrance fee" of $3,000 and several sacks of rice in order to get inside the lair.

All's forgiven

Now that they are free, the JMC leadership wants the world to know that they were successful in spreading the gospel to the bandits.

"Marami ang mga na-convince (at) naniwala doon sa misyon namin (na) dalhin ang kapayapaan. Nandoon 'yung kanilang simpatiya," said JMC preacher Bro. Frank Rola in an interview with TV Patrol.

["Many were convinced and many believed in our mission to bring peace. The sympathy was evident."]

Rola also said the bombings and the ongoing military offensive helped in securing their freedom.

"Nakabuti dahil natakot naman yung mga Abu Sayyaf. Kapag may bombing, natatakot sila," he said.

["The bombings helped because they scared the Abu Sayyaf."]

He added that despite their initial sentiments against the government and the Abu Sayyaf, the JMC shall continue in their mission to spread the faith.

Freed from that stressful situation, Alvin Flores, one of the rescued preachers also expressed support to the bombing raids on the extremists.

At the same time, the freed preachers spoke kindly of their captors, especially Galib Andang alias Commander Robot.

With the rescue of the JMC hostages, the President and security officials hope the five remaining captives will be recovered quickly and their Abu Sayyaf captors caught soon afterwards.

Ely speaks

Meanwhile, another religious leader has unleashed a few bombs of his own against the ailing Almeda.

Bro. Ely Soriano of "Ang Dating Daan" lashed at Almeda for his allegedly smug statements before he and his group went to the Abu Sayyaf hideout.

"Nayabangan ako sa kanya dahil sabi niya... maytape ako noon eh... dahil sabi niya poposasan daw niya ang Abu Sayyaf. Bubulagin daw niya ang mga Abu Sayyaf... ganoon," an irate Soriano said in an interview with TV Patrol.

[I felt he was being boastful when he said... and I have this on tape... that he will handcuff the Abu Sayyaf. He said he will blind them.]

"Siyempre hindi ko sasabihin 'yung "Buti nga!" pero ang masasabi ko siguro it's time for them to learn their lesson," he added.

[Of course, I won't say "Serves you right!" but what I can say is it's time for them to learn their lesson.]

He also had a mouthful to say about the JMC's claim that they were able to convince Abu Sayyaf leader Galib Andang alias Commander Robot to convert to Christianity.

"Kung totoong na-convert nila si Commander Robot,by logic only, dapat pinalaya na sana sila nung na-convert. And that was a month ago, sabi nung asawa niya," he said.

[If Commander Robot had converted then he should have released them right after his conversion.]

Almeda's wife Lina earlier claimed that Andang had converted to the Christian faith. As proof, she showed a photo of the rebel leader with his hands clasped together, as if in prayer.

"It's a lot of nonsense. Walang reason para sabihing bayani o hero, wala naman siyang ginawa eh, nakaistorbo pa siya sa military operations doon eh,"Soriano said. "And I have proven to the Filipino people through history e hindi talaga totoong may power siAlmeda."

[There's no reason to consider him a hero. He did not do anything to merit the title. He was even considered a burden when the military operations began. I've proven to the Filipino people through history that he does not have supernatural powers.]

(With reports from Karen Davila, Doris Bigornia andCatherine de Castro)