Indonesian escapes from Abus

ZAMBOANGA CITY — One of the three Indonesian sailors kidnapped last year escaped from his Abu Sayyaf captors the other day and confirmed reports that another sailor had died in captivity due to illness, officials said.

Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya said Indonesian sailor Julkipli escaped late Thursday from an Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Jolo where he and two other Indonesians had been held for the past nine months.

"(Julkipli) confirmed reports that one of the hostages died due to lingering illness," Abaya said, adding that Julkipli was being debriefed at a military camp in Jolo, Sulu after he was found by soldiers while walking in Taglibi in Patikul town.

Julkipli said he gave his captors the slip during a military offensive Thursday.

"He escaped during a government offensive and he is now in the care of the Marine battalion landing team. It was because of the continuous military pressure that Julkipli managed to escape," Abaya said.

Julkipli confirmed that his companion, Munto Jacobo Winowatan, the captain of the tugboat M/T Sentil Marine 88 , died after he was badly wounded during an a gunbattle between the bandits and government troops on Feb. 3, in Patikul town.

He also confirmed one local hostage, David Chua, abducted by the bandits last year, also died due to a lingering illness.

Looking tired, haggard and frail, Julkipli told troops that their captors, led by one-armed Radulan Sahiron, are still holding the remaining six hostages.

"I am okay now, thank you. But it was really a hard life with the Abu Sayyaf in the mountain," Julkipli said.

He said they have been on the run and subsisting solely on bananas because of the military’s pursuit operations.

"For the last five days we have been eating uncooked bananas while running away, so I decided to take the chance to escape while my guard was asleep because they were tired from running away," Julkipli said. "I wish to go home now so I can see my family."

The Indonesian government lauded the Armed Forces for the safe recovery of Julkipli.

In a statement, the Indonesian embassy said they are confident that the Philippine government would be able to solve its lingering Abu Sayyaf problem.

"On behalf of the Indonesian government, we would like to commend the Armed Forces of the Philippines and those who are responsible for the recent developments. We trust and feel confident that the Philippine government would be able to solve this case," the Indonesian embassy stated.

Indonesia chargé d’affaires Alexander Laturiuw also urged the government to facilitate the immediate release of Pieter Lerrich, the remaining Indonesian sailor held captive by the bandit group.

Julkipli and fellow Indonesian sailors Winowatan and Lerrich, were snatched by the Abu Sayyaf last June 17 aboard M/T Sentil Marine 88 tugboat that was pulling a barge off Capual Island near Jolo, Sulu.

Aside from the three Indonesian captives, the bandits still hold captive four Filipino women evangelists of the Jehovah’s Witness who were abducted on Aug. 20.

President Arroyo had given the military a 90-day deadline to crush the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo, Sulu.

The military is still conducting pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf and at least 10 bandits were killed in Talipao, Sulu yesterday.

Abaya said two soldiers were also wounded during the fighting. "There is an ongoing firefight but we still have no official result of casualty as of the moment," he said.

After receiving reports that one of the Indonesian hostages was rescued and some captives were killed in follow-up operations by the military, Mrs. Arroyo said it was a "great day for the people of Sulu."

"Despite the world’s focus on the war in Iraq, we’re also winning the war against terrorism in Mindanao," Mrs. Arroyo said. — With Jose Rodel Clapano, Marichu Villanueva, AFP