Military

DATE=10/25/2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PHILIPPINES / HOSTAGES (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-268408

BYLINE=ALISHA RYU

DATELINE=HONG KONG

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The Philippine military says it has rescued three Malaysian hostages held by Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels for more than six weeks in the southern Philippines. VOA's Alisha Ryu has details from our Asia News Center.

TEXT: Armed Forces spokesman Generoso Senga says Philippine troops rescued the hostages early Wednesday after a brief firefight with about 30 rebels on the rebel stronghold, Jolo Island.

/// FIRST SENGA ACT ///

There was a clash this morning about nine o'clock. The troops were scouring all the areas that were occupied by fleeing Abu Sayyaf members. The three Malaysians were rescued after a firefight of about an hour.

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Mr. Senga says the hostages were found in good condition. The fighting continued after the rescue but there is no report yet on casualties.

The hostages were seized on September 10th from a Malaysian diving resort. The abduction prompted Philippine President Joseph Estrada to order a massive military strike on September 16th to rescue them and 16 other captives on Jolo Island.

The Malaysians were the last to be captured by Abu Sayyaf rebels who gained notoriety with a string of high-profile kidnappings in the region. Over the past three months, some of the hostages have been released in exchange for millions of dollars in ransom. Others escaped or have been rescued.

The military says there is no word on the status of two men still held captive by the rebel group, an American, Jeffrey Schilling and a Filipino, Roland Ulla. On Tuesday, the military's chief of staff said he plans to pull out some of the five thousand troops on the island. But Mr. Senga says the remaining troops will continue their search for the missing men.

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The mission given to us is to rescue all of the hostages and to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf group so until this mission is accomplished, the operation will go on.

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Mr. Senga says 112 Abu Sayyaf rebels have given up, 125 captured and 142 killed since the military began its operation. The Abu Sayyaf says its fighting for a Muslim homeland in the south. But the Philippine government considers them to be bandits and has vowed to crush them. (Signed)

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