Abu Sayyaf tells Sulu clergy: Convert to Islam or face

JOLO, Sulu - The Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf has warned Roman Catholic priests, nuns and other Christians in this island-province to renounce their faith and convert to Islam or face a "holy war (jihad)," the provincial police chief said yesterday.

Superintendent Candido Casimiro said the Abu Sayyaf, accused of bombing and kidnapping Christian targets in the past, has posted bills in churches, schools and other public places calling for a conversion to Islam.

Casimiro said one poster torn down by the police said: "Change your religion, or else we will launch a jihad (holy war) against you."

The police chief said he has already warned Sulu bishop Angelito Lampon about the threats.

"The Abu Sayyaf does not want their (Christians') presence," Casimiro told reporters.

Church officials said they have withdrawn their missionaries from the Sulu hinterlands, maintaining a presence only in the capital of Jolo following a spate of kidnappings of foreign church workers.

The Abu Sayyaf was blamed for the separate kidnappings in 1993 of Spanish Roman Catholic priest Bernardo Blanco and two Spanish Carmelite nuns in Sulu. The two nuns were freed unharmed while the priest escaped.

The group was also behind the 1993 kidnapping of American Charles Walton, a language researcher of the US-based Summer Institute of Linguistics.

Abu Sayyaf gunmen have also mounted bomb attacks against churches in the South.

The extremist group is still holding captive three men who were kidnapped this month and last January.

Casimiro said elements of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force and Marine troops have been chasing Abu Sayyaf guerrillas who are "very mobile to evade close contact with us."

Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan said the rebels have demanded a P2-million ransom in exchange for the release of bakery owner Edwin Induso and another P2 million for bank teller Patrick Viray.

The third captive is Andres Amante, 24, a bookkeeper of the Philippine Federation of Family Planning who was snatched last Feb. 15.

President Estrada urged Sulu officials in a dialogue here yesterday to expedite measures for the early and safe release of the three Abu Sayyaf hostages. - With AFP report