Security cordon vs. Sayyaf tightened in Sulu

Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, commander of police forces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, inspects policemen and members of the Civilian Auxillary Force deployed near an Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Indanan town in Sulu province, where the terrorist group is still holding two Red Cross workers Swiss national Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni since January 15. Sulu Governor Dr. Sakur Tan has declared a state of emergency in the province to address the hostage crisis. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 12, 2009) – Security forces continue to tighten its cordon around the jungle stronghold of Abu Sayyaf terrorists holding two kidnapped foreign Red Cross workers in Sulu province in the southern Philippines.

Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, the regional police chief, said security forces have surrounded the Abu Sayyaf in the town of Indanan where they are holding hostage Swiss national Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni.

“Police and military forces, as well as armed village guards are still in the area and preventing the kidnappers from escaping with their hostages. We are closely working with the crisis committee headed by Sulu Governor Sakur Tan and the military and other law enforcement agencies,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

Tan has put the province under the state of emergency to address the three-month old hostage crisis after the Abu Sayyaf threatened to behead Notter and Vagni.

A terrorist spokesman Albader Parad said they will kill the hostages if security forces do not return to pull out from at least five towns and return to barracks. Tan flatly rejected the Abu Sayyaf demand, saying, the withdrawal of troops and police forces could pave the way for terrorists to escape or merge with other rebel groups.

The Abu Sayyaf has released a third Red Cross hostage, Mary Jean Lacaba, a Filipino engineer, on April 2 two days after the declaration of the state of emergency.

Jabarani said the crackdown on Abu Sayyaf supporters is going on in Sulu. He said police and military last week raided a house in the capital town of Jolo and seized a cache of bomb components believed to be a source of Abu Sayyaf explosives.

“The governor’s declaration of the state of emergency in Sulu really helped us in the campaign against terrorism. It gives us more power to address the threats of terrorism,” he said.

Jabarani, who was in Sulu over the weekend, also inspected police forces and armed village guards who are helping authorities prevent the kidnappers from escaping.

Military and police intelligence reports said several Jemaah Islamiya terrorists are among those holding the aid workers - Mauiya, Dulmatin, Zulkifli bin Hir and Umar Patek - who are all wanted by Indonesia for the spate of deadly attacks, including the Bali bombing in 2002. The US has offered at least $16 million rewards for their capture. (With a report from Mark Navales)