Fate of 3 hostages in Tawi-Tawi uncertain

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Marines and Navy commandos have not yet sighted the three foreign hostages being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf Islamist group as they continued to comb the islands of Tawi-Tawi near the border with Malaysia.

Troops discovered the jungle hideout of an Abu Sayyaf band that fled from Basilan after they stormed a stronghold in Omapuy island, which had been camouflaged to look like a peaceful barangay.

Capt. Feliciano Angue, chief of anti-terror unit Naval Task Force 62, said his men have not sighted Indonesian Walter Sampel, 53, and Malaysians Toh Chiu Tiong, 48, and Wong Siu Ung, 52, crewmen of the tugboat M/L Ocean 2.

However, Angue said they have received information that the three are still being held by an Abu Sayyaf band in one of the islands of Tawi-Tawi.

Angue said residents of Tawi-Tawi islands have been asked to help monitor the presence of armed men in their barangays and track down the kidnappers.

The seamen were snatched from their tugboat last April 11 off Linkian island near the border with Malaysia and brought to the island of Taganak.

Information from Sabah said a group of negotiators from Sabah has been establishing contact with the kidnappers.

Authorities have warned that negotiations with the kidnappers would encourage them to continue with their illegal activities.

Meanwhile, two suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in a clash with militiamen in a barangay in Lamitan, Basilan last Sunday.

Fierce fighting broke out about 5 p.m. when the bandits ambushed and wounded a member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) who was on patrol with two others in upland Barangay Bulingan.

Backed by civilian volunteers organization members, the militiamen immediately launched an offensive and caught up with the fleeing bandits in Sitio Linguisan.

Col. Reymundo Ferrer, Basilan military commander, said the fighting left two rebels killed and an undetermined others wounded.

The militia men said the rebels tried to retrieve their casualties but were prevented by heavy fire from the CAFGU and CVO.

Escorted by Lamitan police on armored vehicles, the militiamen recovered the bodies of the slain rebels, who were identified by their relatives as Luping Pelah and Aspalah Piling.

— Roel Pareño