Janjalani flees Basilan

A top Abu Sayyaf leader has brought two American missionaries to Jolo after escaping from nearby Basilan island where the U.S.-Philippine wargames will start on Friday, sources said.

Martin and Gracia Burnham, kidnapped from a resort in Palawan, southwestern Philippines last April, were brought by Khadafy Janjalani to the camp of another leader Radulan Sahiron in Patikol, Jolo, said the source.

Janjalani is awaiting a $2 million ransom, the source added, but did not say how and who will bring the money.

Abu Sabaya, who reportedly held the two hostages in Basilan, did not join the group in Jolo.

Sources said the ransom payment was earlier scheduled to be made outside the country, in a nearby island of Malaysia or Indonesia, adding that Sabaya has entrusted the hostages to his relatives in Basilan.

Last Friday, sources said they saw the two American hostages "walking very slowly" in a village in Basilan.

Our Zamboanga Correspondent adds: Meanwhile, security forces shelled suspected Abu Sayyaf hideouts in Jolo, officials said.

Two Philippine Air Force (PAF) OV-10 bombers dropped bombs on Abu Sayyaf targets and ground forces shelled suspected rebel dens in Patikul town.

"This is a continuing government offensive," said Col. Roland Detabali, operations' chief of the Southern Command.

Col. Romeo Tolentino, commander of the 104th Brigade based in Busbus, Jolo, said the military's target is the 80-man rebel group headed by Sahiron, the overall commander of the Abu Sayyaf based in Jolo.

At least 10 Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed during a five-hour encounter in Patikul last Sunday, Tolentino added. Soldiers from the Marines Battalion Landing Team 10 were sent to Jolo as reinforcements.

Our Manila Bureau Chief adds: Former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson revealed in an interview with Radio Mindanao Network that missing TV journalist Arlene de la Cruz called him on Friday, saying she needed help because her abductors, "whom she described as Tausugs" have demanded $800,000 (P40 million).

Singson said he had a 15-minute phone conversation with de la Cruz, adding he told her to convince the Abu Sayyaf leader to release her without ransom. They should do away with their demand for the immediate release of $10,000 (P500,000).

"She told me the abductors wanted money. I told her I could not negotiate for ransom because it's against the policy of the government. I said I could help if it's medicine and livelihood her captors want," Singson said, adding his offer was to give medicine and food supplies worth $10,000.

"Next time, I will talk to her kidnappers. I will appeal to them to release Arlene because she's a journalist. Through her, they can air their stories and their grievances to the government."

Singson said de la Cruz was "obviously nervous" while talking to him, although he said she assured him that her kidnappers did not hurt her.

Singson admitted that he withheld the information of de la Cruz' abduction for days as he did not know what to do.

De la Cruz, an investigative reporter for cable station Net 25 and a contributor to Philippine Daily Inquirer, has been missing since January 19.

A conflicting story from Mindanao said de la Cruz was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf which she double crossed because she did not share with them the $20,000 payment given by the American network, CBS, for the interview with the Burnhams.

If proven true, she will be the first woman to be beheaded by the group.