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May 26, 2001, PHNO, Pearl Farm Raiders Tagged as MILF,
Davao City, May 26, 2001 - The military has identified the armed men who raided the Pearl Farm resortas members of the Moro National Liberation Front.
Col. Fredesvindo Covarru-bias, head of the Southcom Civil Relations Service, said the rebels raided the resort because its operator, Spain-based Barcelo group, refused to pay "taxes."
He said the rebels were demanding P200,000 and 21 cellular phones from the management.
At least 100 foreigners, mostly Koreans and Taiwanese, were booked at the resort when the raiders attacked Tuesday
Two persons were killed and three others were wounded.
Earlier, Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, Armed Forces chief, said the raiders were pirates operating in the Davao Gulf.
Police officials said they have received information the Abu Sayaff was behind the raid.
A police spokesman said Abu Sabaya, spokesman of the Abu Sayaff, has admitted responsibility in the attack. The official would not elaborate.
Police said a speedboat left behind by the raiders off Samal island was traced in Zamboanga City where it was registered.
Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon said the attackers, armed with machine guns and automatic weapons, were targeting resort-owned speed boats.
A military intelligence report said the raiders were out to abduct the foreign vacationers but were foiled by security guards who engaged them in a firefight.
The guerillas are still holding three civilians for use as human shields, Covarubbias said.
Teams from the Army's 25th and 75th Infantry Battalions, backed by helicopters and gunboats, are pursuing the raiders near the boundary of Saranggani and Davao del Sur.
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