Sabaya laughs off US bounty

The bounty on their heads is a good sign.

This was how an Abu Sayyaf leader described the United States’ announcement of a $5-million reward on him and four other top commanders in a most wanted list.

Speaking on local Radio Mindanao Network in Zamboanga City, Abu Sabaya said Washington’s move gave them stature. He said he and his comrades view the bounty as a propaganda coup for the group.

"That’s a good sign. It means that we have importance, that we are important to the Americans," Sabaya said, belittling the cash reward for his and his cohorts’ capture.

"That means if Colonel Covarrubias dies, the government would not even incur an expense of P1 million. But if I die, the US government would be spending P250 million."

Sabaya was referring to the spokesman for the military’s Southern Command, Lt. Col. Fredesvindo Covarrubias, who simply brushed off Sabaya’s remarks.

"I will die with honor unlike him, a criminal and a bandit," he told reporters. "His life is nothing. And compared to a harmless bird, the latter is more precious than him."

Aside from Sabaya, also included in the most wanted list are Khadafy Janjalani, Hamsiraji Sali, Isnilon Hapilon and Abu Solaiman.

At a press conference on Wednesday, US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone announced that the reward is open to anyone around the world who may information that would lead to the arrest of the five Abu Sayyaf leaders.

Yesterday a US Embassy staffer said they received almost a hundred phone calls. "It’s getting close to 100 calls, including prank calls, but mostly inquiries from callers," said the staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Acting US Embassy press attaché Frank Jenista declined to give details about the calls. "We are not going to talk about the numbers. It is a confidential matter so we are not saying anything," he said.

"This is a very promising sign. This might soon turn into a wave," said an agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) assigned to gather intelligence on the Abu Sayyaf. He said Abu Sayyaf members "could even rat out on their fellow members just for the cash reward," he added.

The NBI officer, meanwhile, advised US Embassy staffers to take extra precaution. "By announcing the offer, they also made themselves possible targets of the Abu Sayyaf," he said.

Hector Janjalani, Khadafy Janjalani’s elder brother, however, believes that no one in the group would betray his youngest brother. "No matter how many millions of dollars they place on his head, they will never capture him."

Hector Janjalani is currently on trial in Manila for possessing illegal drugs. He was arrested in a Manila mall in December 2000.

Meanwhile, in Isabela, Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar said he has received unconfirmed reports that many former Abu Sayyaf members have been inquiring about the bounty.

In nearby Zamboanga City, Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Ernesto Carolina told reporters that he has also received unconfirmed reports of local vigilantes and bounty hunters sharpening their machetes or cleaning their old guns.

Carolina discouraged bounty hunters and vigilantes from going after the Abu Sayyaf themselves and encouraged people who have information about the Abu Sayyaf to come forward.

"My advise is, if you think you can do it, do it now because somebody might get ahead of you," he said.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez yesterday warned bounty hunters against going after the Abu Sayyaf leaders.

"We aren’t going to allow any bounty hunters from abroad to come in. We also won’t allow vigilantes to take the law into their own hands," he told a press conference.

In case those on the lookout do stumble onto any of the five most wanted, Perez said "they could capture, they could arrest but they are not supposed to kill" the bandits. Instead, the bandits should be turned over to authorities.

Jenista said the bounty has nothing to do with the Philippine military’s failure to rescue two American hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf, American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham.

Jenista said the reward money is only part of the US government’s worldwide war against terrorism.

US special forces have been training Filipino soldiers since January on counter terrorism tactics and helping in the hunt for the elusive Abu Sayyaf as part of joint military exercises between US and local troops.

Ricciardone yesterday expressed hope that the hostages would be released before the joint exercises end in July, adding that the exercises would not be extended.

"We will be disappointed if they are not released," he said. "If the Burnhams have been released yesterday or tomorrow, the activities will continue. But if the Burnhams are not released, we will leave."

However, Ricciardone said "other training operations will phase in next year."

Commenting on the bounty, Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Sen. Rodolfo Biazon welcomed the reward offer, saying it’s only a matter of time before the Abu Sayyaf is finally collared.

However, Magsaysay, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said the US offer may be an indication of Washington’s frustration over the Philippine military’s failure to rescue the Burnhams.

Biazon, vice chairman of the panel and a former armed forces chief, said the US offer is part of Washington’s commitment to fight terrorism in the country.

The opposition Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) criticized the Arroyo administration, saying the reward money means that Washington has given up on Manila’s vow to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf.

PMP spokesman Crispin Remulla said the United States had to resort to "bribery of the civilian population of Basilan" to get the bandits. "Is this not embarrassing?" he said.

Malacañang yesterday welcomed the bounty offer, saying it would help speed up the crackdown on the Abu Sayyaf. National Security Adviser Roilo Golez brushed off criticism that the reward offer might compromise Philippine sovereignty.

"Those who say that it will affect our sovereignty show that they are narrow-minded because this is really part of international cooperation [against terrorism]," Golez said.

Jenista said, "We tried to work very closely with Philippine authorities on this matter on all areas all the way up to Malacañang," he said.

Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr. said he was consulted about the reward offer but only on the eve of the US Embassy announcement. — Roel Pareño, Mike Frialde, Aurea Calica, Delon Porcalla, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marichu Villanueva, Jose Rodel Clapano, Perseus Echeminada