Freed Malaysian hostages turned over to KL

President Estrada handed over to Kuala Lumpur yesterday three Malaysian hostages rescued from the extremist group Abu Sayyaf and vowed to free the remaining captives soon.

The three, rescued Wednesday by government troops after a firefight with the gunmen in a mountain area in southern Sulu, were handed over to Malaysian Ambassador Manzoor Hussein Arshad in a brief ceremony in Davao City.

Dive resort manager Mohamed Noor Sulaiman, 43, divemaster Joseph Ongkinoh, 40, and contractor Kan Wei Chong, 35, looked reserved but well rested.

They had spent 46 days in captivity in Sulu’s rugged jungle terrain after being taken hostage by the rebels in a cross-border raid in the Pandanan resort in the neighboring Malaysian state of Sabah last Sept. 11.

"I would like to commend our soldiers for their bravery and dedication to their job of rescuing the hostages and flushing out their captors," Mr. Estrada said.

"Seventeen down, two more to go," the President said, referring to the 17 hostages the military had helped free from the Abu Sayyaf after launching a massive military operation in Jolo island on Sept. 16 to end the six-month-long hostage drama.

The two still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf are American Jeffrey Schilling, abducted on Aug. 28, and Filipino Roland Ullah, who was snatched last April 23 along with more than a dozen Asian and European hostages from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan.

"I assure you there will be no letup in the military’s efforts to rescue the remaining hostages," Mr. Estrada said, adding that troops were under instructions to "pulverize the Abu Sayyaf."

The President branded the Abu Sayyaf as "plain cowards" who would often retreat into the jungle amid military fire and who claim bravery only "if they have the security of numbers and when the adversaries are unarmed civilians."

Arshad, who spoke on behalf of the freed Malaysian captives, thanked the Philippine government for its "unflinching efforts" in securing the hostages.

He said the only "positive outcome" of the kidnappings was that it strengthened efforts by Malaysia and the Philippines in "combating and preventing such transnational crimes in the future."

"I have no doubt that we have become wiser now, and while there is no guarantee that such incidents will not be repeated, the chances of a repeat performance are slim," Arshad said.

The freed Malaysian captives are expected to return to Sabah state today.

Two Frenchmen and 12 Filipino Christian preachers were rescued earlier in the military assault. The other hostages were freed after ransom payments worth millions of dollars were paid to the captors, according to sources close to government negotiators.

In a statement, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the successful rescue of the Malaysians.

She expressed confidence the remaining hostages would be rescued soon.

"I congratulate the gallant and valiant soldiers for the rescue of the hostages. This should prove once and for all that the AFP is on the right track in dealing with the crisis," she said.

European countries had earlier criticized the Estrada administration for ordering a military offensive against the kidnappers. However, two Frenchmen and 12 Filipino Christian preachers were recovered following the assault.

Meanwhile, 20 more Abu Sayyaf fighters, believed to be followers of Commander Mujib Susukan, have surrendered to the military in separate areas of Sulu province.

Southern Command spokesman Col. Hilario Atendido said the bandits surrendered last Wednesday in Talipao, Maimbung, Patikul, and Panglima Estino towns, yielding 16 assorted assault weapons.

This brings to 132 the number of Abu Sayyaf guerrillas who have given up since the military launched the rescue operation, Atendido, said.

A total 138 rebels and five soldiers have died in 76 encounters since the rescue began. – Roel Pareño, Marichu Villanueva, AFP