7 Sayyaf rebels killed

ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least seven Abu Sayyaf rebels holding an American and a Filipino hostage in Sulu were killed and 10 others surrendered as soldiers continued their operation to rescue the captives, officials said yesterday.

One Abu Sayyaf member was killed when a government patrol clashed with a rebel band in a remote village in Panglima Estino town early Wednesday, police said.

There were no other casualties reported following a brief gunfight, said Sulu provincial police chief Candido Casimiro.

Casimiro also said four Abu Sayyaf members surrendered to Panglima Estino Mayor Abas Estino and another six to the police.

Last Tuesday, soldiers engaged the rebels in a running gunbattle in the jungles of Talipao, Sulu, leaving six Abu Sayyaf members dead. One soldier was wounded, said local Army spokesman Capt. Charlemagne Batayola.

The rebels are still holding American Jeffrey Schilling and Filipino dive master Roland Ullah hostage.

In a radio interview the other day, Schilling, 24, said the Abu Sayyaf rebels holding him traveled at night to escape pursuing military troops. He said no doctors were available to treat his infected leg and he had no more medicine.

He said he was becoming "less and less optimistic everyday."

Brig. Gen. Generoso Senga, Armed Forces spokesman, said the Abu Sayyaf’s strength has dwindled from about 300 to 400 members before the hostage crisis to only 75 hardcore combatants since the military launched its offensive last Sept. 16.

Earlier, Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes said they are planning to reduce the military’s presence in Sulu as the situation has stabilized. About 4,000 soldiers are involved in the offensive.

Senga said they are optimistic the military can end its crackdown before the end of December. — Roel Pareño, Paolo Romero and AP