Military set to storm kidnappers' hideout

Armed forces chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu has refused to pull out eight battalions of soldiers and an elite U.S.-trained light reaction company from Jolo island, southern Philippines, noting that they are poised for an attack if ongoing negotiations for the release of four women preachers in the area fails today.

The troops will be deployed along "escape routes" in Mount Sinuuman, in Patikul town, where the kidnappers are hiding with their hostages, said Lt. Gen. Cimatu.

He added that this will prevent the kidnappers from going to the camps of the Abu Sayyaf group and members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who remain loyal to former governor Nur Misuari.

The deployment of the troops is meant to pressure the kidnappers to respond positively to the ongoing negotiations, explained Lt. Gen. Cimatu.

The negotiator's request, he said, for a five-day moratorium ends today. Lt. Gen. Cimatu, who was a company commander in Jolo in the 1970s, is familiar with the area's terrain.

Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes said: "The demand is preposterous. The president has instructed us to go all out, get them and that's what we will do. There will be no pullout. We will conduct operations to go against these kidnappers."

Southern command chief Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina noted that authorities have located the area where the kidnappers are holding their hostages. "What the troops (are) doing is setting up the bandits into a target spot."

Brig. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, army commander in Jolo, said: "But we are giving the civil authorities time to negotiate until Tuesday."

The kidnappers, led by Abdulmuin Sahirun, a nephew of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahirun, are holding four women preachers – Nory Mantulo, Cleofe Mantulo, Flora Mantulo and Emily Mantik.

They and four others were abducted in Patikul town on August 20. The kidnappers decapitated Lemuel Mantulo and Lionel Mantik on August 21. Two of the group's guides were released on the day of the abduction.

Relatives expressed the fear that the hostages might not be released. They also said the military rescue operation could kill all the hostages.

Meanwhile, Sulu Gov. Yusop Jikiri has complained about the military, saying it has refused to listen to demands not only of the negotiators, but also of the residents who are scheduled to harvest fruits such as lanzones, durian and mangosteen until the first week of September.

"Our pleas are being ignored by the military," alleged Jikiri.

At the same time, former Sulu vice-governor, Munib Estino, said residents will turn to the Abu Sayyaf group for protection if they are not allowed to harvest their fruits.

Patikul town mayor, Hashir Hayudini, and Muslim preachers who are talking with the relatives of the kidnappers, expressed the hope the military will extend the moratorium period until September for "goodwill".

The negotiators denied that the kidnappers have demanded $120,000 (P6 million) in exchange for the four women. At the same time, sources said the leader of the kidnappers is an Abu Sayyaf member.

"They are all Abu Sayyaf. They use drugs to embolden themselves when going to battle with government soldiers. Almost all of them are drug users, only Radulan Sahiron is not," sources said.

There are about 150 Abu Sayyaf members scattered in Sulu.

Ghalib Andang, also known as Commander Robot, is based in Talipao. The other Abu Sayyaf leaders are in Indanan, the military said.