Filipino troops continue operations Vs. Sayyaf terrorists in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 11, 2009) – Filipino troops continue to surround a hinterland village in the southern island of Sulu where three Red Cross workers are being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya terrorists.

The hostages – Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino woman Mary Jean Lacaba – were seized January 15 after inspecting water and sanitation projects at a prison in Patikul town. A dismissed jail guard, Raden Abu, kidnapped the trio and handed them over days later to the Abu Sayyaf headed by Albader Parad and Dr Abu Pula, whose real name is Umbra Jumdail.

Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, of the Jemaah Islamiya, is also believed to be with the Abu Sayyaf group and probably several more, according to Army Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, commander of the Armed Forces' Civil Relations Service. He said troops have sealed off the area where the terrorists are holding the hostages.

On Monday, troops clashed with the Abu Sayyaf wounding 11 eleven marines in a failed attempt to spring the aid workers. The fighting forced the terrorists to flee deeper into the jungle with their captives.

Marine Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, commander of military forces in Western Mindanao, said security forces continue operations in Indanan town. "Our operations are continuing and we will not cease until the hostages are released unharmed," he told the Mindanao Examiner.

The fighting on Monday had the International Committee of the Red Cross worried over the safety of the captives.

Alain Aeschlimann, the ICRC's head of operations for East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific, has appealed anew to the kidnappers to free all three aid workers.

"The ICRC is renewing its appeal to the kidnappers and to all those involved in dealing with this crisis to refrain from any action which could jeopardize the safety of Mary Jean, Eugenio and Andreas."

"This is a very delicate situation, which must be handled with caution in order to avoid compromising in any way the safety of our colleagues, and in order to secure their rapid and unconditional release," he said.

The Abu Sayyaf, listed as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, has reportedly demanded as much as $10-million ransoms in exchange for the freedom of the captives.
Philippine authorities said the Abu Sayyaf was behind the spate of bombings and kidnappings-for-ransom in the southern region. Most of the ransoms it gets are being used for the purchase weapons and to finance terrorism. (Mindanao Examiner)