March 27, 2000, The Philippine Star, 18 Abu Sayyaf hostages freed, by Roel Pareño,

March 27, 2000, The Philippine Star, 18 Abu Sayyaf hostages freed, by Roel Pareño, 

ISABELA, Basilan - At least 18 hostages were freed unharmed yesterday by the Abu Sayyaf extremist group, which promised to free even more hostages if its demands for 200 sacks of rice were met. 

Basilan Rep. Abdulgani Salapuddin, head of the government negotiators who earlier met with the Muslim rebel group in the hinterlands of this island-province, returned to the capital here with the 18 hostages, regional military chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Abaya said. 

Among the freed hostages was the youngest, a four-year-old boy, one of those seized by the Abu Sayyaf Monday after a failed raid on a military detachment. Most of those being held are teachers and students. 

Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Ahmad said in a radio interview the group released the 18 hostages to government negotiators despite the abduction of 11 relatives of Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani. He added the group would "release more as negotiations continue." 

"Masaya na ako dahil nakita ko na ang aking magulang (I'm now happy because I've seen my parents)," said one freed hostage, 12-year-old Dana Medial. But she added she was still saddened because many were left behind. 

Salapuddin said the release of the 18 - composed of eight teachers and 10 students - brought the number still being held by the extremists down to 33. The Basilan congressman brought the freed hostages to a tearful reunion with relatives waiting at the 103rd Army Brigade headquarters in Barangay Tabiawan here, said Victor Leozo, a Red Cross official who witnessed the release. 

"There was a lot of crying and I was moved to tears myself when I saw a friend among the freed hostages," Leozo told radio station dxRZ. The released hostages were identified as Ernesto Arellano, principal of Tumahubong Elementary School, Macario Mautdon, Albert Sahaw, Nita Asidin, Nurhalda Kotoh Abubakar, Saida Sabirin, Sahiduan Sahijan, Pairusa Sabirin, all teachers; and students Crisanto Reambonanza, Samina Samadul, Nadia Muslimin, Alih Sahirin, Jamal Abdulwasid, Dania Misal, and Dania and Dana Medial. 

The military had earlier halted rescue operations against the Abu Sayyaf to start civilian negotiations for the safe release of the hostages still being held by the extremist group in Sumisip town, a senior military officer said. 

"We halted rescue operations to allow peaceful negotiations," said Abaya. And as government forces continued to cordon off the lairs of the Abu Sayyaf in the hinterlands, Abaya said the rebels were now willing to reopen negotiations for the freedom of the hostages after initially threatening to kill them. 

The group had threatened to kill the hostages after relatives of Janjalani were kidnapped Friday by an unidentified group in an apparent retaliatory kidnapping. Asmad Salayudin, spokesman for the "Al-Harakatul Islamia" Abu Sayyaf group, said they were still holding more than 30 hostages, including Claret school administrator and director Fr. Roel Gallardo and school principal Reynaldo Rubio. 

National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre is in Basilan to personally coordinate the various negotiating efforts by local officials, religious leaders and non-government organizations. 

Salayudin said they would only divulge their actual demands during negotiations with Salapuddin, and that they could possibly release some of the hostages to movie actor Robin Padilla, who has converted to Islam. "We might release some of the hostages to Robin Padilla if he joins the negotiations," the Abu Sayyaf spokesman said earlier. 

The extremist group had earlier hinted that they were seeking the ouster of provincial police director Superintendent Akmadul Pangambayan and Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar. 

The Abu Sayyaf initially blamed Akbar for the seizure of their relatives and threatened to kill the hostages unless the relatives were freed. The governor denied involvement. 

In a related development, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said the government is investigating the reported kidnapping of Janjalani's wife and mother. Mercado pointed out that there is currently no evidence that would show Gov. Akbar was involved in the abduction of the Janjalani family members. 

"We are still not aware of the details of this particular incident. I prefer not to comment on anything until we have the facts at hand. There's a lot of propaganda going around," he told reporters in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City. 

Seven MILF rebels killed in Lanao clash 

At least seven separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front leaders were killed and an undetermined number wounded in a running gun battle Friday morning with government troops in Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte, a military official said yesterday. 

The fresh fighting has brought the rebel death toll to 11 in the last week as soldiers continued to flush out remaining MILF forces in the province. Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva said the fighting broke out at 5:30 a.m. in Barangay Libutan when some 200 heavily armed MILF fighters attacked a military detachment there. 

The military suffered no casualties as the rebels were immediately repulsed by heavy artillery and ground fire from 105mm Howitzers. Villanueva said two hours after the attack, reconnaissance troops conducted blocking operations and ambushed the withdrawing rebel group, led by a certain Commander Mercy. 

The ensuing firefight, which lasted more than an hour, left at least seven rebels dead. Last Wednesday, some 100 MILF fighters tried to occupy a village in Sapad town but were repelled by military forces. Four rebels were killed. 

Villanueva said additional government troops would be deployed in Mindanao, particularly in Lanao towns where most clashes have taken place. The additional forces would be on top of the recent deployment of two brigades of Marines and a brigade of Army Scout Rangers. "There will be more troops coming in, and those that have been deployed earlier will stay and secure the towns even if the situation there has normalized," he said. 

Villanueva pointed out that all roads in Lanao del Norte are now open to vehicular traffic. "There is nothing to fear now, The rebels can no longer gather as a big group and launch an attack on towns. Our soldiers are there," he said. -- By Roel Pareño, with Paolo Romero, Edith Regalado,Jose Rodel Clapano, John Unson, AFP