September 22, 2000, BusinessWorld, Military closes in on rebel camp; Sayyaf seeks Libyan intervention,

September 22, 2000, BusinessWorld, Military closes in on rebel camp; Sayyaf seeks Libyan intervention,

Chances of the military recovering another Abu Sayyaf hostage, American Jeffrey Schilling, have grown brighter after government troops started moving in on the camp of the group holding the American in Patikul, Sulu.

Press Secretary Ricardo V. Puno, Jr. yesterday said Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo T. Reyes reported to the Cabinet Cluster on Foreign Policy and National Security, or Cluster E, that the military has identified the location of the group headed by Abu Sabaya.

"Gen. Reyes is headed back to Zamboanga at this time because there will probably be some action taken even as we speak. The reason for that is there is clear identification of the location of the group of Abu Sabaya and the hostage, Mr. Schilling," Mr. Puno said during a briefing at 3:30 p.m. yesterday.

He said Mr. Reyes, during the Cluster E meeting yesterday noon at the Mabini Hall inside Malacanang, said the military started its operation in the Patikul area at 2 p.m.

"The military have already said they have identified the location of Abu Sabaya, and Mr. Schilling appears to be alive and relatively in good condition. They've also told us... promising signs that they may be able to get something accomplished in the very, very near future," Mr. Puno added.

Prior to the military operation, a local radio station in Zamboanga aired a taped statement of Abu Sabaya and Mr. Schilling, with the latter calling for a halt to the military operations. The tape was sent to the radio station last Wednesday night and was supposed to have been recorded a few hours earlier.

Mr. Puno, however, said the taped message proves Mr. Schilling is indeed still alive as the military earlier said, but advised that his statement be taken with a grain of salt since he is still being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf.

Mr. Puno also said the military seems to be handling ongoing "rescue and offensive" operations that started last Saturday well. "We (in Cluster E) reviewed the situation and indicated that the military seems to have the situation well in hand. It may seem difficult for people to understand, but as the French hostages said (last Wednesday), the military is really keeping up the pressure against the Abu Sayyaf."

Also present during the Cluster E meeting were Philippine National Police chief director-general Panfilo Lacson, National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre, Executive Secretary Ronaldo B. Zamora and representatives from the departments of National Defense and Justice.

Mr. Puno noted the Abu Sayyaf, as confirmed by the two French journalists that managed to escape from their captors last Tuesday night, is now on the run from pursuing government troops.

"They really are trying to avoid contact with the military because they are down to a relatively small force... The other hostages might also be waiting for the same opportunity as the French. But we can also assume that by this time, Robot has tightened his security there," Mr. Puno added.

Robot is the alias of Galib Andang the leader of another Abu Sayyaf faction based in Talipao, and is still holding hostage 12 members of the Jesus Miracle Crusade and three Malaysians abducted only last Sept. 10.

Mr. Puno, however, said the military has no update on the casualty, and that the numbers are still the same from last Sunday's report: Seven Abu Sayyaf members killed, 20 wounded and five wounded on the side of the military with no fatalities.

The extremist group Abu Sayyaf is seeking Libya's intervention for a halt in the military assault launched by the government, and for the resumption of negotiations for the release of its remaining hostages, a Foreign Affairs official said.

Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Franklin Ebdalin told reporters in an interview yesterday that reports reaching Cluster E, which he heads, include attempts of the rebel group to pursue assistance from the Khadafi Foundation for a cease-fire.

The foundation interceded for the release of earlier hostages taken from the Malaysian island-resort of Sipadan.

The Cabinet cluster convened in Malacanang yesterday morning.

"They want Libya to intervene to start negotiations and stop the military operations against them. But I don't think the military is sympathetic to that," he said.

He said rebel leaders have been using satellite phones taken from their escaped French captives to relay communication with the foundation. The phones are linked to Germany, thus the intercepted communication was relayed to the Philippine government, the source added.

The government will have to maintain its military operation in Mindanao until the Abu Sayyaf accepts a standing offer to suspend military operations only after all 17 hostages are freed. However, Mr. Ebdalin said it is possible that the rebel group is still unaware of this offer.

In a related development, legislators and military officials discussed yesterday the possibility of providing additional budget for the military to address the insurgency problem.

In an ambush interview, Senate committee on national defense and security chairman Rodolfo Biazon said legislators will study the proposed additional budget needed for the recruitment of new Citizens Armed Forces Geographic Units (CAFGUs) and maintenance of military equipment.

"I am moving for the recruitment of 30,000 more CAFGUs to address the increased movement of the Abu Sayyaf, MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and the NPA (New People's Army)... I am looking at an additional of P800 million to P1 billion..." Mr. Biazon said.

Mr. Biazon, along with Senator Robert Jaworski and Paranaque Rep. Roilo Golez, met with top military officials in a joint consultative meeting conducted by the Senate and Lower House committees on national defense at the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Meanwhile, the military yesterday said up to 60 Abu Sayyaf rebels have been killed since the military started its attack in their lairs in Sulu last Saturday.

Citing intelligence reports, a tally of casualties prepared by the Southern Command indicated that as of yesterday, 42 rebels were killed by government troops.

This is aside from the 18 bodies of Abu Sayyaf rebels which were recovered by government troops in the area, the tally indicated.

Also, nine Abu Sayyaf rebels were wounded, while 22 others were captured as a result of military offensive in the province, which are focused mainly on the towns of Indanan, Talipao and Patikul - all identified stronghold areas.

On the part of the government, six troopers - including three soldiers and three policemen - were wounded.

Government troops also recovered dozens of high-powered firearms, two speedboats and a pair of night vision goggles from the fleeing rebels.

Meanwhile, the displaced population in Sulu has ballooned to more than 3,500 families, as residents continue to abandon their homes to flee from the military operations.

In a press conference in Zamboanga City, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Generoso Senga said 3,571 families - or at least 12,000 individuals - have trooped to evacuation centers.

In its update, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said it has opened 30 evacuation centers in Indanan, Talipao, Patikul, as well as in Parang, Panamao and Jolo towns, mostly coming from the towns of Indanan, Talipao and Patikul.

In the press conference, Mr. Senga also said military operations will continue until all the hostages are secured. "The President ordered us (military) to secure the hostages and to destroy the Abu Sayyaf. We will continue the operation as long as it is necessary."

As this developed, local radio station Radio Mindanao Network based in Zamboanga City aired yesterday a recorded voice message of Mr. Schilling, who is among the hostages held by Abu Sayyaf rebels.

In his message, Mr. Schilling asked Philippine government negotiators to talk with the United States government, so the latter would urge a stop to the full-scale military offensive.