AFP to scale down Sulu troops

Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes plans to reduce the number of troops deployed to rescue the Abu Sayyaf’s five remaining hostages being held in the jungles of Jolo, Sulu.

Reyes told reporters yesterday the situation in the island has stabilized after 14 of 19 hostages were recovered by soldiers after the rescue operation began last Sept. 18.

"We’re studying that particular matter, the situation has improved a lot," he said. "We have every reason to believe the hostages are still in the island and alive."

Troops are still searching for three Malaysians — Mohammad Noor Sulaiman, Joseph Jongkinoh amd Ken Wee Chong — American Jeffrey Craig Edwards Schilling, and Filipino dive master Roland Ullah who are being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf.

More than 5,000 soldiers and policemen were deployed in Sulu for the rescue operation, which included air and artillery bombardment of Abu Sayyaf positions.

About 600 policemen belonging to the Special Action Force have already been pulled out from Jolo.

Military officials told reporters yesterday 135 Abu Sayyaf bandits have been killed and 124 captured since the operations to rescue the hostages started.

Eighty-three members of the Abu Sayyaf have also surrendered and more are expected to give up to government troops in the coming days, the officials added.

Military officials said five government troops and three militiamen were killed, and 17 soldiers, two militiamen, and four civilians were wounded in encounters with the bandits.

Capt. Ferdinand Bajarin, Armed Forces public information officer, told reporters yesterday Army troops have seized some 333 high-powered and 17 low-powered firearms, and nine crew-served weapons from the Abu Sayyaf.

Government forces have also recovered 147 damaged firearms and assorted communications equipment from the bandits, he added.

In Sulu, troops from the Army’s 4th Infantry Battalion fought with some 20 heavily-armed men of Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot, in Talipao town.

Military officials said the one-hour firefight started in Barangay Bilaan at 6:20 a.m., where the soldiers recovered an Armalite rifle, foodstuffs, and personal belongings.

The bandits were able to elude the troops and fled to the vicinity of Barangay Tampakan where they were intercepted by another Army platoon, the officials added. – Paolo Romero, Roel Pareño, AP