AFP fine-tunes plan to get remaining hostages

MANILA, Philippines - After the release of Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni on Sunday, the military is fine-tuning its strategy in rescuing the remaining five kidnap victims in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf bandits. Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said they are focusing their efforts on freeing captives in Basilan because all the hostages in Jolo have been freed. "We will not just be employing purely combat operations but this time we will be employing heavily (this) civil military operations," Brawner said in an interview on dwIZ radio Monday. But deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. said the use of a new approach does not mean the government would give up its all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf’s terrorist activities. "Nasa all-out war ang gobyerno sa lahat na klase ng terorismo. Nagkaroon ng kidnapping sa Sulu kaya nag-iingat sila ... [The government will maintain its all-out war against terrorism. In the case of the kidnapping in Sulu, we just acted carefully... But we have maintained an all-out war approach against terrorism]," Golez said in an interview on dzXL radio. Brawner said the fine-tuning stemmed from the claim of Sulu Vice Governor Nur-Ana “Lady Ann" Sahidulla that members of the Abu Sayyaf want to "change" and live decent lives. Sahidulla, who played a key role in Vagni’s release, had said the Abu Sayyaf is willing to pursue honest means of livelihood. New strategy "Ang Marine Corps nag-devise ng bagong strategy para matalo ang grupo na ito ... We will pursue this line of action, hindi lang purely combat operations, but we will also try to reach out them and try to give them a decent way of living, nang sa gayon hindi na sila kailangang mang-hostage pa," Brawner said. [Our Marine Corps has devised a new strategy to beat this group. We will combine combat operations with attempts to reach out to them to give them an opportunity to get a decent life without resorting to kidnapping.] On Sunday, Brawner said the AFP would continue its operations to free at least five civilians abducted by the Abu Sayyaf bandits. He said these kidnap victims who remain in custody include two fishermen in Basilan and three teachers in Zamboanga Sibugay. Meanwhile, Malacañang hinted at a review of policies in increasing security for foreigners, including volunteers in danger areas in Mindanao. Vagni was the last of three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers to be released, after they were seized by the Abu Sayyaf in Patikul, Sulu on Jan. 15. ICRC worker Mary Jean Lacaba was released April 2, while Andreas Notter was released last April 18. "Dapat itong nangyari sa ICRC volunteers ay mapagkunan ng leksyon ng lahat ng parties concerned [What happened to the ICRC workers should be a lesson for all parties concerned]," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in an interview on dzXL radio. - GMANews.TV