PNP: $5-M bounty for Abus working

Outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza said yesterday the $5-million reward the US government is offering for the capture of Abu Sayyaf leaders is working.

Mendoza cited the reward as the reason police received reports from civilian informants on sightings of Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the company of civilians on an island off Zamboanga City.

However, Mendoza was quick to clarify that both the PNP and the Armed Forces are still verifying the civilian reports that the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas were seen on Isla Bisaya off Salangan town in Zamboanga del Sur.

"We’re still verifying what the police informers said of the band with unarmed civilians," the police chief said, adding the PNP and the Armed Forced have sent officers to the area to check the information.

"The report claimed they were fishermen, natives. Our men are now out there jointly with the AFP. (The report) still has to be confirmed. Many have been reporting their whereabouts. The reward system is working," Mendoza said.

As for the reported offer from the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) to help track down the Islamist rebels, Mendoza said the PNP welcomes any help from any group as long as it is for peace.

He also maintained that contrary to some reports, the Abu Sayyaf rebels were still holed up in the Zamboanga peninsula and have not fled to Western Visayas.

An Army source, however, said the military is not discounting the possibility that Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, and his men are heading toward Lanao del Sur.

"There is a high possibility that the bandits are heading toward the area formerly under the MILF control in Lanao," said the source on condition of anonymity.

Retired Gen. Melchor Rosales, the defense department spokesman, also dismissed reports that the band its have taken new hostages. "There was no new hostage-taking incident," Rosales told reporters. He also maintained that full-scale military offensive is still concentrated in the Sirawai-Sibugay area.

Mendoza also dismissed reports that 50,000 new MILF recruits receiving military training in several MILF camps.

"Di kapani-paniwala yan. Nakaparami nun (It’s unbelievable. That’s too many)," he said, without elaborating.