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July 19, 2001, Sun Star, Sayyaf mass base support collapses,

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July 19, 2001, Sun Star, Sayyaf mass base support collapses,

ZAMBOANGA -- The government's crackdown on the Abu Sayyaf supporters and sympathizers on urban centers has caused the collapse of the bandits' mass base support, a military official said here yesterday. Armed Forces Southern Command spokesman Danilo Servando said support to the bandit group has diminished since the crackdown started in urban centers. 

"The crackdown gave an adverse affect on the bandits who have been on the run because of the continuous military operation," Servando said. "We are draining the pond of their (bandit) supply," he added. The arrested supporters and sympathizers were allegedly the ones supplying food and information to the Abu Sayyaf who are still holding 22 captives including American couple Martin and Gracia Brunham in Mount Sampinit, Basilan. 

This, as the military has neutralized a total of 104 Abu Sayyaf members, supporters and sympathizers since the government's renewed campaign against the bandits. The Abu Sayyaf is still holding captive 20 people. Sixty- two supporters and sympathizers out of the 104 neutralized Abu Sayyaf bandits, supporters and sympathizers were apprehended in the massive crackdown in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and in Zamboanga city that started Friday last week. 

Of the 62, 41 were arrested in Basilan, 17 in Sulu and four in Zamboanga city. A total of 24 bandits died, 11 wounded, and seven captured. The military has suffered 100 casualties - 24 soldiers killed and 76 wounded - on separate skirmishes in the provinces of Basilan and Sulu. 

The latest apprehension of suspected bandit members and supporters occurred last Tuesday wherein five, including an ex-Army and a bandit henchman, were arrested. Three of them were collared in Basilan, one in Sulu and one in Zamboanga city. 

Basilan police director Ahmadul Pangambayan identified the ex-Army as Henry Torres and bandit henchman Kusain Indat. Torres is said to be an intelligence personnel of the Abu Sayyaf. Both the suspects were arrested around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday by the 909th Provincial Mobile Group led by Supt. Akmad Amli in a motorized banca terminal along Strong Boulevard, Isabela city. 

The terminal caters for motorized bancas that ply to Malamawi island, the homeplace of Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya. Pangambayan said Torres, 40, a motorize banca operator, denied that he is a member of the Abu Sayyaf and claimed that he left the military service and went into business after he married a native from Malamawi.

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