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Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Palace calls for sobriety amidst Abu reprisals (3:30 p.m.)
MANILA -- Malacanang called on the public to remain calm and focused following terror threats made by the Abu Sayyaf in retaliation for the death of several of their members slain in the botched jailbreak try in Camp Bagong Diwa.
"We are appealing for calm and sobriety after this very unfortunate incident," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a radio interview Wednesday.
Bunye said the bloody end to the Camp Bagong Diwa crisis in Bicutan, Taguig City, should not have happened the way it did because the government gave in to practically all the demands of the Abu Sayyaf inmate-hostage takers.
"We gave in to the demands of the ASG inmates. We gave them every chance to surrender peacefully but in the end, they refused it," Bunye said.
"The Crisis Team had no other recourse but to assault the jail," he added. Government forces led by elements of the police Special Action Force (SAF), Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) team and Regional Special Action Unit (Rsau) stormed the Camp Bagong Diwa Jail after the deadline given the stubborn terrorists to surrender expired.
At the same time, a Muslim leader said it is unlikely that the Abu Sayyaf will launch retaliatory attacks in Metro Manila following the death of three Abu leaders and other suspected rebel detainees.
Metro Manila Peace and Order Council chairman Datu Amerol Ambiong said the Abu Sayyaf has no support base in Metro Manila that could help them organize an attack.
"The Muslim community in Metro Manila considers the actions of the Abu Sayyaf as un-Islamic," Ambiong said in a television interview.
"I call on my Muslim brothers to report any suspicious activities in your area."
A group of Abu Sayyaf inmates led by Alhamzer Manatad Limbong alias Kumander Kosovosnatched the firearms of three jail guards in their attempt to escape jail early Monday morning.
Three jail guards were killed in the jailbreak attempt.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes, head of the Crisis Management Committee, negotiated for a peaceful resolution to the crisis for almost 30 hours before deciding on the assault.
In the assault operation 23 casualties were reported, 22 of them are Abu Sayyaf inmates and one was an operative of the PNP-SAF. (Sunnex) |
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