March 25, 2000, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf leader's family kidnapped,

March 25, 2000, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf leader's family kidnapped,

ISABELA, Basilan - Armed followers of Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar reportedly snatched the wife and mother of Abu Sayyaf (now Al Harakatul Islamia) leader Khadafy Janjalani early yesterday morning.

Janjalani's wife Karima, his mother Vilma, along with his one-year-old daughter Tashmin and eight other family members were dragged at gunpoint into an ambulance that sped to an unknown destination, said Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Asmad Alahuddin.

However, Basilan provincial spokesman Hader Glang denied that Janjalani's family had been kidnapped and that Akbar and his men were involved. "The Abu Sayyaf just wants to destroy the administration of Governor Akbar," he said. "They fabricated the report because they know Governor Akbar has refused to negotiate with them."

Col. Larry Atendido, spokesman for the Armed Forces' Southern Command (Southcom), said they were verifying reports that Janjalani's family was kidnapped by other Muslims whose children were among those being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf.

He said they have received reports that six armed men led by one Asmin Banga kidnapped Janjalani's family and took them to an undisclosed place. But the military could not confirm if the kidnappers are followers of Akbar, he added.

Last Monday, the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped dozens of students and teachers after a failed raid on a military detachment in Basilan. It has threatened to kill the 42 hostages, including a Catholic priest, being held in two separate jungle hideouts if the military tries to rescue them. Earlier, the group released a pregnant teacher and two students in exchange for food and medicine that the Basilan Red Cross had brought them. In Lanao del Norte, at least 12 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas were killed, while 41 were wounded in skirmishes with government troops yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Roy Cimatu, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division, said Army troops seized three Armalite rifles after a firefight that killed seven rebels and wounded 16 in Poblacion Tagolcan.

In Barangay Poblacion in Sapad town, troops from the 26th Infantry Division repulsed MILF guerrillas after five hours of heavy fighting, killing four rebels and wounding two soldiers and a militiaman.

Southcom chief Maj. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva said the battle ensued when troops spotted 90 heavily-armed guerrillas led by Commander Gamal Umpa. He identified the two wounded soldiers as Cpl. Emmanuel Lacaytong and Pfc. Jury Valdez, and the militiaman as Reynante Adulfo.

Five hours and 45 minutes later, government troops fought 60 heavily armed MILF guerrillas on the boundary of Baloi and Pantar towns, he added. He said the encounter occurred while troops were conducting mopping up operations on part of the Marawi-Iligan national highway when they chanced upon the rebels at around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday.

The military said the rebels continued to descend from several towns to exact revenge on government forces following heavy fighting in Inudaran town. Earlier, Marines and Scout r Rangers killed 88 guerrillas and overran the MILF-held Camp Bilal after hours of intense fighting with rebels.

Villanueva said sporadic clashes are going on as government troops continued mopping up operations. In Parang in Maguindanao, four Marine battalions arrived at Polloc Point yesterday to reinforce government troops stationed in the province. Sources at the Parang municipal government said the Marines would be shipped to Jolo.

Meanwhile, the League of Mayors of Maguindanao wrote President Estrada yesterday to inform him that the province's security situation has worsened. The league's letter was coursed through San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, who is president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. The league said people in the province are gripped with anxiety as the June deadline given by the President for the MILF to conclude a peace agreement nears. In Manila, President Estrada has instructed Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim to give priority to government projects in Mindanao

The Chief Executive stressed that the people of Mindanao should continue to get basic needs so they can easily recover from the insurgency problem. Apart from getting private sector support, Lim is pursuing a food security program to help local governments in the region improve their agricultural capabilities.

Lim recently distributed 5,000 farm tractors to boost food production in the region, and has monitored the handing out of food supplies to families affected by the conflict in Lanao del Norte. In Congress, Senate President Blas Ople and Sen. Gregorio Honasan urged President Estrada to hold talks with MILF Chairman Hashim Salamat for peace in Mindanao. - Roel Pareño, Alvin Tarroza, Lino dela Cruz, John M. Unson, Gina Tabonares, Perseus Echeminda, and AFP