Sabaya mocks US troops

Philippine Inquirer
April 30, 2002
By Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer News Service

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Abu Sayyaf bandit group's spokesperson, Abu Sabaya, has a message for American troops now on war games in the jungle-clad island of Basilan: "Welcome to the party."

In a phone interview with the Radio Mindanao Network station in this city aired Monday, the bandit leader twitted the United States and its host, the Philippine government, for failing to crush the bandit group.

"This is a real embarrassment to the US and Philippine governments. We are holding two hostages from a superpower, yet they could not get us. I hope the US and Philippine governments will do something for the diplomatic and peaceful solution of this crisis," Sabaya said.

"It's embarrassing for the Philippine government because the US hostages (have been) with us for 11 months now," he added.

"It's really an embarrassment because the superpower can't do anything to us. What I can say to the US government and the US troops (deployed in Basilan) is, Welcome to the party."

Sabaya's message was broadcast a day after the US Joint Chiefs of Staff chair, Gen. Richard Myers, visited Basilan and announced that the joint campaign, which includes US training of Filipino troops pursuing the Abu Sayyaf bandits, was "a success so far".

Sabaya, also known as Aldam Tilao, called the radio station twice on Sunday, but station manager Rey Bayogin said only one call was taped and broadcast Monday.

Sabaya also took the opportunity to deny military reports he was seriously ill. "I'm still alive and kicking," he said.

He refused to comment on claims that the Abu Sayyaf was responsible for a series of bomb explosions in General Santos City in the province of South Cotabato last week in which 15 people were killed and scores of others were wounded. "I won't say yes and I won't say no. It's up to the Philippine government to analyze," he said.

He also offered authorities a last chance to strike a deal with his group for the release of the three hostages still in their custody: American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap.

He said he wanted direct talks with the Philippine and US governments. "(Some) people are trying to keep in touch with us, but I think it should be the governments, the US and the Philippines, who should make the negotiations," he told anchorwoman Jenny Sanson.

"Negotiate with us directly, this is the last (time) we (will) open a deal for negotiation," he said, adding that the government should name Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales, Governor Parouk Hussin of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Malaysian officials Sairin Karno and Yusof Hamdan as part of the negotiating team.

Gonzales was the man behind the release of Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni. Karno figured prominently during the negotiation with the Abu Sayyaf for the release of hostages abducted from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan in 2000.

"I hope the Philippine government and US government will do something for the hostages' release and end this crisis," Sabaya said.

Sabaya also denied reports the bandit group had struck a 300,000-dollar deal with the Burnham family. Last week, the family said they had made a deal with the bandits to release the couple but that the Abu Sayyaf reneged. They hinted at but did not explicitly mention a ransom.

Officials in Washington have said that 300,000 dollars in privately raised money was handed over to a representative of the Abu Sayyaf.

The Philippine military has warned negotiators not to give in to any financial demand from the bandit group, saying those who paid in the past have contributed to the Abu Sayyaf's becoming a monster.

Major General Glicerio Sua, chief of Task Force Comet, said: "The bandits will use the ransom money to buy weapons and start shooting my soldiers. In that sense, I am not happy."

Lieutenant Colonel Danilo Servando, spokesperson for the military's Southern Command, said an ongoing operation against the bandits would not be affected. "The policy still holds that we will not entertain any ransom or any negotiations unless it is about the unconditional surrender of the Abu Sayyaf and the release of the remaining hostages," he said.

-- With reports from Inquirer wires

 
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