‘Trident’ chief gets 2nd star

Amid criticisms of the assault in Sulu, the commander of the military and police task force going after the Abu Sayyaf received his second star yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Narciso Abaya, commander of Task Force Trident, actually got promoted by President Estrada long before the military assault on the extremists started last Sept. 16.

But the formal oath-taking was held only yesterday at Malacañang, with Mr. Estrada presiding over the ceremonies during which Rear Adm. Arthur Garrido also got his second star.

Three others were promoted to brigadier general: Paulito Durano, Marciano Ilagan and Angel Martinez.

Mr. Estrada, assisted by Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado and Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes, administered the oaths to the newly promoted AFP officers.

The formal ceremonies were held a day after Abaya’s men from the 59th Infantry Battalion recovered 12 preachers out of the 17 hostages still being held by the Muslim extremist rebels.

Abaya disclosed that the Jesus Miracle Crusade (JMC) preachers led by Wilde Almeda belied earlier reports that their captors Ghalib Andang and Mujib Susukan were wounded in fighting with troops.

At a press conference at the Palace yesterday, Abaya admitted that their rescue operations for the remaining five hostages were being hampered by a slowdown of intelligence information as to the exact whereabouts of the Abu Sayyaf.

He said the five remaining hostages – Malaysians Kim Wee Cheong, Joseph Jinkinoh and Mohammad Nur Solayman, American Jeffrey Schilling and Filipino Rolando Ullah – are now with the faction of terrorist spokesman Abu Salayuddi alias Sabaya.

"But lately, we have lesser and lesser leads as to where the hostages are. But we believe that in a few days or so, we will be getting additional leads to their whereabouts," Abaya said.

"There were some who reportedly have escaped to other islands. But the core group, I believe, is still in Sulu, especially the group of Robot (Andang) and Sabaya," he said.

The recovery of the 12 JMC members appeared to have vindicated the bombardment strategy of AFP chief Reyes, which had been criticized by Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson, who wanted a more commando-type operation to extract the hostages.

A spokesman for the preachers said their captors abandoned them when they realized they were surrounded by air and ground troops, with Robot himself telling them that the hour of their deliverance was at hand. – Marichu Villanueva