Akbar denies delivering ransom to Abu Sayyaf

Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar denied yesterday allegations that he had delivered ransom from families of hostages to Abu Sayyaf bandits in their jungle hideout in the island-province.

In a hearing conducted by the House committee on national defense, Akbar said he had witnesses, including a television reporter, who could pinpoint his whereabouts when the so-called handover of the money took place.

While rejecting reports he was an Abu Sayyaf member, Akbar said he worked with its founders "in teaching the wisdom of Islam" in the 1980s.

However, Akbar said he severed links with the group after its members had turned to violence and became kidnappers, terrorists and bandits.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, chairman of the investigating committee, told reporters yesterday: "We are now getting a clearer picture of the situation on what really happened (in Basilan)."

Last month, survivors of an Abu Sayyaf raid on the St. Peter’s Catholic Church and the adjoining Jose Ma. Torres Memorial Hospital in Lamitan, Basilan accused several military officials of helping the kidnappers escape a massive military dragnet.

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said in a statement yesterday they will hold a third meeting tomorrow on allegations that some military officers had connived with the Abu Sayyaf.

He said they have invited to the hearing Chairman Aurora Navarette-Recina of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), witnesses from Basilan, the accused military officers, and Army Col. Victor Corpus, chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Based on testimonies of witnesses and documents, Magsaysay said the military had "operational lapses" and "nebulous tactical strategies," and lacked effective communications during the siege of the church-hospital compound last June 2.

Magsaysay said his committee has collated documents, including the affidavits of Catholic priest Fr. Cirilo Nacorda and 21 other witnesses, reports from the CHR, the Armed Forces Inspector General and the Philippine National Police, and transcripts of an executive session held in Basilan.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva ordered yesterday more troops to reinforce the 8,000 soldiers sent earlier to Basilan to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf before their self-imposed deadline on Nov. 30.

Villanueva told reporters that by November, the government can establish a "community defense system" in Basilan once the military weakens the Abu Sayyaf’s main nerve.

The additional troops were "enough to fill up the tactical requirement of the military forces in the area," he added.

Villanueva said American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham are "well and safe," along with the Filipino hostages seized from the Dos Palmas island resort off Palawan on May 27, and Torres Hospital and St. Peter’s on June 2. – Christina Mendez, Roel Pareño