Weather prolongs search for Sayyaf

Soldiers tracking down Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the jungles of Basilan island asked yesterday for an extension of the military’s self-imposed deadline as bad weather hampered their operations.

Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, commander of the Armed Forces’ Southern Command (Southcom) based in Zamboanga City, said field commanders have again lost sight of their quarry due to heavy rains and poor visibility at the mountainous Sampinit Complex in central Basilan where the bandits and their three hostages have been holed up.

"Aside from the absence of visual contact, the unpredictable weather makes it also favorable for the bandits for the moment," Cimatu told reporters upon his return to Southcom from a visit to the battlefront in Basilan to assess the operations.

He noted that the junior officers remained optimistic that they could accomplish their mission within their previous deadline of Dec. 31 despite the inclement weather in the area.

The troops have confined their operation within a 25-square kilometer radius at the Sampinit Complex where the Abu Sayyaf bandits were spotted earlier.

With the visual contact, the commanders felt that they would need only 24 hours to rescue the hostages, consisting of an American missionary couple and a Filipino nurse.

But the kidnappers could easily take cover in the thick foliage of the jungle to the consternation of the troops, Cimatu said.

Some 1,000 seasoned soldiers have been deployed for the all-out rescue operations for the hostages, Martin Burnham and his wife, Gracia, who were snatched in May from the upscale resort of Dos Palmas in Palawan, and nurse Deborah Yap who was seized in a subsequent raid on a hospital in Basilan on June 2.

The contingent was composed of elements from the Army’s special forces such as Light Reaction Company, the Scout Rangers and Task Force Recon of the Marines.

Col. Hermogenes Esperon, commander of the Army’s 103rd Brigade based in Basilan, said his troops have had intermittent clashes with some 80 Abu Sayyaf bandits, including the band of Abu Sabaya.

Meanwhile, Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said the arrival of US military advisers headed by Gen. Donald Wurster in Zamboanga City on Friday was part of RP-US mutual strategy against terrorism.

"They are here to make arrangements with defense officials for the training and advisory programs to be conducted for our armed forces units combating terrorism," Adan told reporters.

The government has said the US advisers will not be allowed to directly participate in combat operations against the Abu Sayyaf.

Cimatu said the US military experts will set up a training camp in Zamboanga City where elements of the Philippine Army’s Light Reaction Company will be trained in all types of guerrilla and commando operations.

"Some (of the Americans) will visit Basilan to find out what we really need," Cimatu added.