AFP: No truce in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military has rejected a demand by Muslim militants who staged a failed jailbreak in Bicutan yesterday to suspend military offensives in Sulu in exchange for their surrender.

"This is apparently orchestrated, but no deal and no way," Armed Forces Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza said.

He noted that the demand made by leaders of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf gang who remained in an armed standoff with police and SWAT teams at Camp Bagong Diwa last night indicated the group was feeling the pressure from the military’s continued offensive in Sulu.

"It’s coming out now that the (Abu Sayyaf) is really beleaguered by our relentless operations in Sulu, if the demand of Kosovo and Robot is to halt the operation," Braganza said, referring to Abu Sayyaf leaders Alhamser Manatad Limbong, also known as Commander Kosovo, and Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot.

Last month, government troops overran an Abu Sayyaf stronghold at Karawan complex in Indanan town and flushed out Abu Sayyaf members led by Albader Parad and Umbra Jumdail, known as Abu Pula.

The early-morning escape attempt left six dead and the armed Muslim militants are still holed up inside the facility. Negotiators are still trying to affect their surrender.

"What can they do? We have been maintaining the pressure on the Abu Sayyaf and they are on the run," Braganza said, commenting on the possibility that the jailbreak was simply a diversionary tactic.

Braganza said the Abu Sayyaf members led by Khaddafi Janjalani had fled from Basilan except for a few who are detained in the Basilan provincial jail.

He added that he would not give in to any demand by the Abu Sayyaf inmates who staged the jailbreak in Bicutan to free their colleagues from the Basilan jail.

"If ever they ask for that — no deal," Braganza said, expressing confidence that law enforcers in Bicutan can effectively handle the situation.