GMA urged: Rescue last of Abu Sayyaf hostages

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The family of Roland Ullah, the last man the Abu Sayyaf group seized from a Malaysian resort last year, sought the help of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday in rescuing him.

Ullah, 59, a diving master, has been in captivity for almost a year now. He was one of the 21 mostly foreign hostages taken by the bandit group from the Sipadan resort in Sabah, Malaysia.

Romy Ullah, 29, a younger brother of the hostage, said their family is asking Mrs. Arroyo to re-negotiate the freedom of his brother.

"The government should also give attention to my brother. He is Filipino too," said the young Ullah who accused the past administration of neglecting the case.

Col. Fredesvindo Covarrubias, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines—Civil Relations Group, said rescue operations for Ullah and American captive Jeffrey Schilling has not been stopped.

He explained that the two captives have been transferred by the Abu Sayyaf to different places in the forested area of Sulu to avoid pursuing troops.

"It is not true that we have neglected them. The rescue and offensive operation would not take this long if the military is not doing anything," he said.

The family reported that Joy Ullah, the captive’s wife, has already given birth last November while awaiting the fate of her husband in their home in Kampung Sri Wangi, Semporna, Malaysia.