By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
Elite Philippine troops have been deployed to “flush out" al-Qaeda-linked militants holding two German tourists captive in southern Sulu province - an Abu Sayyaf stronghold.
Public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said Wednesday that about 100 special force members known to be adept in long-range reconnaissance, sniping and infiltration into enemy territory had been sent to Sulu from Zamboanga City.
The German couple disappeared in waters off southeastern Palawan Island on April 25 while sailing to Malaysia for a holiday, and were reported missing after Filipino fishermen spotted their empty yacht.
Earlier this month, the Abu Sayyaf threatened to behead one of them October 10 – later extending the deadline to October 17 - unless a P250-million ($5.62-million) ransom is paid and Germany stops supporting a U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Wednesday’s deployment came a day after army chief Gregorio Pio Catapang sent ten K-9 teams to the island province to locate the bandits and their captives.
Explaining that Catapang’s order is aimed at putting more pressure on the abductors without endangering the hostages, Cabunoc said: “The AFP chief of staff is very serious in his proclamation that the release of the hostages must be expedited.”
Top military officials from the region have said that troops cannot launch rescue operations for the hostages yet as the situation still needs to be carefully analyzed.
Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, chief of Western Mindanao Command, said negotiations are ongoing between the kidnappers and Sulu’s local crisis management committee.
He added that a marine battalion was also headed to Palawan to augment forces.
Since 1991, the Abu Sayyaf -- armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles -- has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortions in a self-determined fight for an independent Islamic province in the Philippines.
It is notorious for beheading victims after ransoms have failed to be paid for their release.
ISIL has captured large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria, later declaring the territories under its control an Islamic "caliphate." The U.S. and its Arab allies began bombing ISIL targets inside Syria in late September, after conducting airstrikes in Iraq since August.
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