Malaysia not supporting Sayyaf rebels — RP envoy

KUALA LUMPUR (via PLDT) – Malaysia supports the Philippine government’s crackdown on the Abu Sayyaf bandits and their supporters in Basilan, Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Jose Brillantes said yesterday.

Brillantes told Filipino reporters here that Malaysian authorities had not reported any attempt by the bandits to break out of the military dragnet and escape to the nearest Malaysian island.

"The Abu Sayyaf, whenever it is talked about here, it is with sentiments in our favor," he said. "In the sense that everybody considers the Abu Sayyaf as a bandit group, an outlaw group; they only have well wishes for us that we can eventually finally put this diversion to rest."

Brillantes said he is in constant touch with Malaysian police and military authorities and that Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes has a "very, very good" relationship with Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"They are in constant touch with each other because we have a border crossing agreement with them (Malaysia)," he said.

Brillantes said the Malaysian initiative calls for the "monitoring" of specified sea lanes on the border of the Philippines and Malaysia.

"It will be up to the sea-going vessels," he said. "They have to make sure they are within these lanes and if they are out, the presumption is they are intruders and they will have to be subjected to apprehension, arrest depending whether or not the rules of engagement are followed."

In Basilan, Army troops clashed with the Abu Sayyaf in the jungles of Sumisip-Tuburan, killing one, days after the bandits raided Lamitan town.

In an interview via satellite telephone from his jungle command post, Col. Hermogenes Esperon told The STAR yesterday Army Special Forces and Scout Rangers are combing the jungle of Upper Kapayawan to flush out the bandits.

"We have to sustain this offensive to keep them away from staging diversionary attacks on the civilians," he said.

Esperon, commander of the Army’s 103rd Brigade, said skirmishes erupted in several parts of Tuburan town after many Abu Sayyaf bandits scurried down the mountains to escape the air strikes of the Air Force.

"Those who managed to elude the fighting and air strikes from the mountain terrain were received by blocking forces," he said.

On the other hand, Lt. Col. Danilo Servando, Southern Command spokesman, told reporters yesterday the Abu Sayyaf has reportedly suffered an undetermined number of casualties in fighting in Barangay Kadayan in Tuburan town. – Marichu Villanueva, Roel Pareño