August 23, 2002, The Philippine Star, Nacorda: Sabaya is alive, by Sandy Araneta,

August 23, 2002, The Philippine Star, Nacorda: Sabaya is alive, by Sandy Araneta, 

Though he was reported dead and left to the sharks two months ago, terrorist leader Abu Sabaya -- one of the United States' most wanted -- continues to be sighted in Mindanao, a Catholic priest said yesterday.

Fr. Cirilo Nacorda, who in the past had accused some military officers of conniving with the terrorist group, said there have been reports that the erstwhile Abu Sayyaf spokesman had been sighted a few times in Western Mindanao.

Nacorda, parish priest of Lamitan town on the Abu Sayyaf island stronghold of Basilan, said Sabaya even reportedly held a party with close relatives and supporters in Basilan.

He said it is public knowledge in Basilan that Sabaya, whose real name is Aldam Tilao, is still alive and planning to strike again.

Nacorda said he got the information on the sightings from an unnamed doctor who, in turn, got the information from an unidentified Abu Sayyaf supporter who claimed to have seen Sabaya personally. Nacorda and the doctor were both abducted by the Abu Sayyaf and released in 1994.

The military has said there have been numerous reports of purported sightings of Sabaya since he was shot in a sea encounter with government troops near the town of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte on June 21.

Sabaya was said to have been killed by Philippine Marines and crack troops of the Navy's Special Warfare Group who acted on intelligence information supplied by the US military.

A spy satellite reportedly even enabled US President George W. Bush to monitor the operation.

However, Sabaya's body fell into the shark-infested waters and was never found, the military said, raising suspicions that Sabaya was still alive and the military let him go.

Assurances from President Arroyo and the US military -- which was then training Philippine forces in combating terrorism -- failed to quell public skepticism in Sabaya's reported death.

Nacorda said the reported sightings boost his earlier allegations that some military officers and even local government officials were bribed by the bandits in exchange for safe passage.

This, he said, enabled the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf to elude a year-long massive military campaign backed by gunships, artillery and, at times, US military intelligence.

According to Nacorda, Sabaya was seen in Lamitan on June 22, a day after the clash in which he was reportedly killed.

He was again seen the following day in Tuburan town, also in Basilan. There, he reportedly held a "duwaa" or a party with close relatives and Abu Sayyaf members. He reportedly had no bullet wounds, contrary to military claims that his body was cut in half by fierce gunfire.

Four days later, the military, on orders of President Arroyo, called off the search for Sabaya's body. On that day, Nacorda said, Sabaya was seen in Isabela town, Basilan's capital, and met with Abu Sayyaf leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Hamsiraji Sali, both wanted by Washington on terrorism charges.

It was there that the Abu Sayyaf supporter, who told Nacorda's doctor-friend that Sabaya was still alive, met with the bandit leader who was accompanied by several henchmen.

Nacorda said Sabaya was reportedly last seen in Maluso, Basilan, two weeks ago. He added that he believes that the local military is aware about the sightings but had not been acting on them.

Nacorda had previously accused the military of letting the Abu Sayyaf elude the military dragnet.

Because of his allegations, three officers are facing possible court- martial for allegedly allowing a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits to escape a cordon ringing a Lamitan hospital where the bandits were holed up on June 2, 2001.

Nacorda said he would sue the three officers before a civil court if the case is whitewashed.