Two child hostages rescued from Sayyaf, says Palace

Government troops rescued yesterday afternoon two of seven children still being held hostage by the extremist Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, a Malacañang statement said yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Narciso Abaya, commander of the Army's 1st Infantry Division based in Pagadian City, said Billy James Larrosa, 9, and Rellos Pia, 12, were recovered following an hour-long encounter between soldiers and the bandits in upper Mahayhaya near Lamitan town in Basilan.

He said they are now working to ensure the safe release of five more children and two adults still under captivity. They were among the 51 persons abducted by the Abu Sayyaf last March 20.

"This is part of our continuing pursuit operations," Abaya said after the two children were recovered, adding there was no casualty on the government's side during the firefight.

Meanwhile, government negotiators, assisted by foreign emissaries, will try their luck anew today in securing the release of 21 hostages, mostly foreigners, being held for a month now by Abu Sayyaf extremist rebels in Jolo, Sulu.

Chief negotiator Presidential Adviser Robert Aventajado said they would return to Jolo today for another round of talks with Abu Sayyaf leaders.

The panel of negotiators was in Manila over the weekend for consultation with President Estrada regarding the Abu Sayyaf's demands for the safe release of the captives.

Formal talks have been delayed by intermittent skirmishes between the guerrillas and government forces, as well as frequent changes in the government negotiating team and security arrangements for the negotiations.

Aventajado said the Abu Sayyaf leaders are expected to formally submit their demands during the meeting, and a reaction to the government's request that an ailing German mother be freed as a gesture of goodwill.

Police authorities said some 500 policemen may be deployed to secure the venue for the talks, most likely to take place at an Abu Sayyaf jungle lair in Jolo.

However, sources said the guerrillas were also eyeing the towns of Patikul and Panamao as possible venue for the talks.

The hostages, consisting of nine Malaysians, a German family of three, a South African couple, a Lebanese woman, two Finns, two French nationals and two Filipinos were snatched on April 23 in the famous diving resort island of Sipadan off Borneo and brought to the Jolo jungle.

The Abu Sayyaf, the smaller and more radical of two groups of Muslim rebels fighting for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao, drew world attention to the hostage crisis.

Another band of Abu Sayyaf guerrillas is still holding at least nine Filipino hostages in the nearby island province of Basilan. The nine captives were remnants of over 50 schoolchildren, teachers and a Catholic priest who were taken and used as human shields by the rebels after a botched raid on two militant camps in Sumisip town last March 20. -