August 15, 2000, The Philippine Star, 'Robot' can't drive Almeda out of Sulu jungle lair, by Roel Pareno,

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Christian televangelist Wilde Almeda refused to leave the Abu Sayyaf lair yesterday even after Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot, ordered him and his 11 disciples thrown out of the bandits' hideout in the Sulu jungle.

Reports said Almeda, spiritual leader of the Jesus Miracle Crusade (JMC), refused to leave without the 17 mostly foreign hostages.

JMC spokesman Danny Cuarteros said Andang and another Abu Sayyaf leader, Mujib Susukan, had promised Almeda that the 17 mostly foreign hostages would be freed after the evangelists completed 40 days of fasting.

"We will not go down (from the mountain hideout) until they have fulfilled their promise that we would bring along the European hostages after 40 days of fasting," he quoted Almeda as saying.

Since July 1 through Aug. 10, the JMC evangelists have been praying over the hostages at the Abu Sayyaf hideout, holding on to Andang and Susukan's promise that all the hostages would be released to them.

But Cuarteros is confident that Almeda and the 11 JMC members, along with all the hostages, would be freed on Thursday or anytime within the week.

Cuarteros was with Almeda and the 11 other evangelists when they went up to the Abu Sayyaf hideout last July 1.

Sources in Sulu said Cuarteros was released last July 27 so he could raise a huge amount to pay for the ransom of Almeda and the 11 disciples still in captivity.

The JMC reportedly paid $3,000 and gave 35 sacks of rice to the Abu Sayyaf last June 30 in exchange for passage into the terrorists' hideout.

Fourteen of the 17 hostages were seized from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan last April 23 and taken to Sulu, where they have been held for more than three months now. The three other captives, from French television, were detained July 9 while covering the crisis.

The Sipadan group is comprised of three Malaysians, three French citizens, including a Lebanese woman who had been granted French citizenship while in captivity, two Finns, two Germans, two South Africans, and two Filipinos. Six Malaysians and a German woman have already been freed.

Meanwhile, former Libyan ambassador Rajab Azzarouq denied reports that a Libyan plane is scheduled to arrive in the country to fly some of the hostages from Sulu to Tripoli in Libya.

"I cannot tell you anything now," he said. "I have no idea."

In another development, Sulu Gov. Abdulsakur Tan had sent men to known Abu Sayyaf hideouts to verify reports that the terrorists had kidnapped 11 Japanese and Taiwanese fishermen.

"For as long as my own 'assets' (spies) have not taken their (hostages) pictures, as father of the province, it is difficult to say anything (on the matter)," he said. Tan said his men will be able to verify the reports in a day or two.

On the other hand, Sulu police director Superintendent Candido Casimiro said that policemen under his command are also trying to find out whether or not the reports are true.

"However, as of yesterday, we don't have anything to say, except that the incident has yet to be confirmed.," he said.

Since last week, Camp Crame has received reports that Japanese marine biologists had been kidnapped while conducting research off the coast of Tawi-Tawi. But the Tawi-Tawi police said the report was a hoax.

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said the Armed Forces is still verifying reports of the new kidnapping, and that there was no supporting evidence to confirm them.

"We have been briefed about the security situation in Mindanao and there was no mention of any abduction of foreigners again by the Abu Sayyaf," he said.

However, The STAR learned that Abu Sayyaf is planning to kidnap the passengers of a Japan-bound luxury liner when it passes the Sulu Sea anytime this month or next month.

Intelligence reports said this is the reason why the Abu Sayyaf had bought speedboats with powerful Volvo engines. They need the speedboats for a quick getaway once they snatch their prey, the reports said. -- With reports from Jaime Laude, Paolo Romero