Hopes dim for Jolo rescue

ZAMBOANGA CITY– Hopes for the quick rescue of the Abu Sayyaf’s five remaining hostages – three Malaysians, a Filipino and an American – were dashed yesterday after their captors apparently escaped with them.

Maj. Angelo Gapilano, spokesman of Task Force Trident, told reporters yesterday four hostages were reportedly sighted in different parts of Jolo but when government troops reached the site, the kidnappers and their captives were gone.

But reports said Roland Ullah, last of the Sipadan hostages has joined the Abu Sayyaf allegedly out of frustration that he was not included in the release of the 20 others.

Apart from Ullah, the other remaining hostages are Malaysians Mohammad Noor Sulaiman, Joseph Jongkinoh, and Ken Wee Chong, and American Jeffrey Craig Edwards Schillings.

Galipano said the Malaysians are believed to still be in the area of Talipao and Malabong towns, while the American was last seen in the nearby coastal town of Pamanao.

"We cannot really pinpoint them but our troops continue combing the areas where they are suspected to be held," he said.

Galipano said the military has been checking all leads and information on the hostages’ whereabouts, but that all these turned out to be negative.

"We are still trying our best to recover them because we still consider their safety as our primodial concern," he said.

Galipano said he believes the five hostages and the Abu Sayyaf leaders are still in Sulu where police and Army troops are searching for them.

Leaders of the Abu Sayyaf have not made any statement about the fate of the hostages since the military launched a massive offensive against the bandits last Sept. 16. – AFP and Roel Pareño