NEWSFLASH

ABU SAYYAF TERRORISTS BLUFFING ON HOSTAGES

Malacanang, May 3, 2002 (STAR) By Marichu Villanueva - Malacañang remained unfazed by Abu Sayyaf terrorists’ threat to execute their two American hostages, and called the ultimatum a bluff to coax the government to negotiate.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also belittled the threat, saying it would not weaken the government’s resolve to rescue the hostages and annihilate the Islamist guerrillas.

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said the Arroyo administration is sticking to its "no-ransom, no-negotiations" policy on kidnapping cases.

He said President Arroyo would not be cowed by the Abu Sayyaf’s threat to kill American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham after she rejected their final offer to negotiate for the release of the hostages.

Golez reiterated the government’s demand for the unconditional release of the Burnhams and Filipino nurse Deborah Yap who have been held captive by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan for nearly a year.

Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable said as a matter of policy, the government does not react to statements by terrorists.

"Our operations to rescue the hostages and the government cannot be distracted from this policy," Afable said.

Abu Sayyaf leader Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, made the threat after the government turned down his group’s demand to designate one of the President’s top advisers to spearhead negotiations for the hostages’ freedom.

"We have closed the negotiations so it is up to them (the government) to look for the dead bodies if they want to," Sabaya told a radio station in Zamboanga City.

Although Golez acknowledged the stalemate, he expressed hopes that the Abu Sayyaf terrorists would not harm their captives, saying it would be a violation of the teachings of Islam.

"They would be held responsible for their actions," Golez stressed.

Meanwhile, the military’s intensified operations to rescue the three hostages would continue "as long as the Abu Sayyaf has the hostages," Golez said.

Some 5,000 soldiers are involved in the operations with the assistance of American military advisers taking part in the ongoing six-month joint exercise between the two armies.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Jose Mabanta said they would not be swayed by the threat, adding they even doubted if the man who issued the ultimatum was really Sabaya.

"We are still verifying the authenticity of the person behind the said radio broadcast or these interviews, so we are uncertain about his identity," Mabanta said.

Mabanta pointed out that Sabaya has been ostracized by the Abu Sayyaf and has lost control over the group.

Mabanta clarified that Sabaya was merely spokesman for the bandits and does not have control or command over them.

"Sabaya is the spokesman and deals only with propaganda. In those times, pinpointing the enemy is the name of the game. Propaganda plays a big role," Mabanta said.

Lt. Col. Danilo Servando, spokesman for the AFP’s Southern Command based in Zamboanga City, agreed with Mabanta’s observations. He said Sabaya has no more influence over his group and did not have the hostages in his custody.

The AFP claimed the Abu Sayyaf has split up into small factions to scuttle the government offensive.

Servando said the Burnhams were with the group of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.

Mrs. Arroyo earlier directed the troops to focus their offensive on the ultimate destruction of the Abu Sayyaf.

Relatives of the hostages have claimed the Abu Sayyaf reneged on a deal to free the captives.

The Burnhams were seized, along with fellow American Guillermo Sobero and 17 Filipinos, by Abu Sayyaf gunmen who raided the upscale Dos Palmas island resort off Palawan on May 27 last year.

Yap was captured by the same kidnap group during a siege on a hospital in Lamitan town last June 2.

The Abu Sayyaf has also been reported to have executed by decapitation dozens of hostages in Basilan, including American Guillermo Sobero who was beheaded on June 11 as an "Independence Day" gift to the government.

The governments of both countries have linked the Abu Sayyaf to the al-Qaeda network of Saudi-born international terrorist Osama bin Laden, principal suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks in Washington DC and New York City. — With reports from Paolo Romero, Roel Pareño