Author: Agencies/Zamboanga City
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: October 29, 2001
US Anti-terrorism experts flew on
Sunday to a southern Philippine island, where Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels
were holding captive an American missionary couple and eight Filipinos.
The American team flew to Basilan
Island province, 900 kilometres South of Manila, amid a news report that
the rebels have beheaded American Gracia Burnham, held captive with her
husband Martin.
Military and defence officials stressed
there was no confirmation on the alleged beheading, which was reported
by a Manila-based tabloid.
"No, that's not true," said Lieutenant
General Jose Calimlim, armed forces vice chief of staff. "That is just
a tease. That is a wrong information fed to the media."
The American anti-terrorism experts
were accompanied by Lieutenant General Roy Cimatu, chief of the armed forces'
Southern Command, officials said. They flew on two UH-1H helicopters, which
were escorted by two MG-520 attack helicopters.
Philippine officials said the Americans
would be assessing the military's campaign against the Abu Sayyaf, which
has been linked to Islamic militant Osama bin Laden.
"They will not be armed and will
not join any combat mission while in Basilan," said armed forces spokesman
Brigadier General Edilberto Adan. "They will just study and assess the
military's capabilities."
Earlier in the month, Abu Sayyaf
spokesman Abu Sabaya threatened to kill the Burnham couple if the military
offensive against his group was not halted and negotations were not opened.
Sabaya warned President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo that she would be bringing the corpses of the Burnhams during her
scheduled visit to the United States in November if his demands were not
met.
In June, the rebels beheaded a third
American captive - 40-year-old Californian tourist Guillermo Sobero. His
remains were found only this month.
Government officials have rejected
the Abu Sayyaf's demand for negotiations on the hostages' freedom and vowed
that there will be no let-up in the military assault.
The hostage crisis began on May
27 when the Abu Sayyaf abducted 20 people - the Burnhams, Sobero and 17
Filipino vacationers -from a Philippine luxury resort.
