December 17, 2001, Inquirer, Still no Burnhams; Abus elude military anew, by Julie S. Alipala,

KAPATAGAN GRANDE, Isabela City -- The Burnhams will not be going home just yet. And neither will Filipino Ediborah Yap, the nurse who was abducted during the siege of Lamitan town last June. 

After its much-publicized announcement that American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham would be enjoying a "white Christmas," the military has admitted it failed to carry out its objective of freeing the hostages before the mass at midnight Sunday. 

Earlier, Southcom chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu said the military was very optimistic the hostages would be rescued before Dec. 16 "because we are closing in on the Abu Sayyaf." 

"They will celebrate white Christmas together with their respective families," Cimatu said then. 

After the self-imposed deadline lapsed Sunday, Cimatu said the military had lost track of the bandit group. 

He blamed the geography of Barangay Abong Abong in Maluso town as the reason why the Abu Sayyaf bandits have slipped out of the military's "sight." 

Brig. Gen. Glicerio Sua, the chief of the Task Force Comet charged with rescuing the hostages, said the military would be giving itself another week. 

"We did not actually issue a deadline here, it was a mere timeframe (for) our plans," Sua clarified. 

Despite the setback, Cimatu said the military remained optimistic. 

About 3,000 soldiers have been combing the jungles of Basilan to find the Abu Sayyaf group, led by Abu Sabaya, which is holding the Burnhams and the one led by Hamsiraji Sali, which is holding Yap. 

"Everybody is longing to go home," Sua said. 

Meanwhile, a military officer said Sunday that Abu Sabaya, a.k.a. Aldam Tilao, was limping from wounds sustained in a recent encounter with the military. 

Capt. George Frugoso, operations officer of the 2nd Marine Battalion said Sabaya, the self-styled spokesperson of the bandit group, had been seriously wounded during an encounter in Barangay Erelei, Sumisip, Basilan on Dec. 7. 

"He is now very weak and can't walk far," said Frugoso, citing as his source an Abu Sayyaf bandit who was captured during the encounter. 

But even in his weakened condition, Sabaya was still in command of his group, Frugoso said. 

Based on the information given by the arrested bandit, Sabaya is still the one who deals with various private individuals trying to secure the release of the Burnhams, Frugoso said. 

Recent press reports said that among those privately attempting to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf was Sen. Panfilo Lacson. 

Cimatu said Sabaya has even reduced his ransom demand from two million dollars to 40 million pesos. 

Col. Hermogenes Esperon, commander of the 103rd Brigade said the lowered ransom was to have been the subject of negotiations between Sabaya and some private individuals working for the release of the American hostages. 

The negotiations, which should have taken place in Sumisip town, were reportedly called off because of heavy military deployment. 

Aside from his wound, Frugoso said Sabaya was also facing the problem of lack of food. 

He said the military operations in Basilan have deterred the group of Amir Mingkong from sending food to the bandits.