Sobero brod seeks US help in rescue try

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The brother of an American hostage being held by the Abu Sayyaf appealed to the Philippine government yesterday to allow the United States to help in rescue operations.

Alberto Sobero, younger brother of Guillermo Sobero, said it is about time that the Philippines allowed US law enforcers to come and help rescue the captives.

"I am not saying that we (Americans) should meddle in your affairs, but I wish Philippine authorities would open the door a little wider for US authorities to help because there are American lives involved here," he said over dxRZ radio here.

Alberto expressed apprehension on the condition of Sobero who, along with two other Americans and 17 Filipinos, are reportedly being kept in the jungles of Basilan.

The hostages were snatched by the bandits from the upscale Dos Palmas resort island off Palawan on May 27 and had been moved several times as the Abu Sayyaf tried to evade pursuing government troops.

Alberto said he is saddened that numerous Filipinos have died in the military’s hunt for the bandits, and that he wished simply for the hostage-taking to finally end.

"It is regrettable that too many people have wasted their lives and that the Philippine government is unable to come to a satisfactory solution to the problem," he said.

The military has confirmed receiving support from the US government, but only in the form of information on the movements of the Abu Sayyaf group.

Alberto noted that he and his family would hold Philippine military officials liable if his brother is killed. He has been informed of reports that local military officials in Basilan were in collusion with the bandits who escaped a siege on a hospital in Lamitan town, Basilan last June 2.

"If they reneged on their principles, I think they should pay for their action because this has caused a lot of misery to us and the families of the other victims," he said.

The bandits, led by Khadaffy Janjalani and Abu Sabaya, miraculously escaped from the Jose Torres Memorial Hospital with their hostages despite hundreds of government soldiers surrounding the place. They even took five additional captives from the hospital’s staff with them.

"If this thing truly happened, then my family would certainly hold military officers responsible if my brother is killed," Alberto said.

The Senate committee on national defense is looking into allegations by local priest Fr. Cirilo Nacorda that top officials of the Army are colluding with the bandits and even inform them of impending attacks.

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay, who heads the committee, visited Basilan late last week to find out the possibility of a Senate hearing being held in the province.

Alberto supported the plan. "They should launch an independent investigation. We need to get to the bottom of what happened there," he said. – With Paolo Romero