(18 Sep 2000) English/Nat
XFA
Hundreds of members from the Jesus Miracle Crusade have staged a prayer rally in Manila to appeal to Filipino President Joseph Estrada to stop a military assault against the Abu Sayyaf Muslim Rebels.
The JMC's leader Wilde Almeda, along with 11 other evangelists, are still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.
They visited the rebel camp mountain camp in July to pray for the safety of 21 hostages abducted by the group from a Malaysian diving resort last April.
The rebels have refused to allow evangelists to leave their camp even after most of the Sipadan hostages
have been released.
Apart from Almeda's group, the rebels are holding two French nationals and three Malaysians and one Filipeno captures with the Sipadan Island group on April 23.
Almeda's daughter Rachel Esguerra, was among those who attended the prayer rally.
She hopes that President Estrada will listen to their plea.
President Joseph Estrada has ordered the military to rescue the hostages and destroy the Abu Sayyaf so they
can no longer engage in kidnapping activities.
General Narciso Abaya, commander of the army's 1st Infantry Division, said the assault could take up to six days.
Fighting continued in many scattered areas of Jolo's jungles.
One political analyst says the government's decision to attack came late, but still he believes that the assault is something that Estrada administration can benefit from.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We just want to ask an appeal to President Estrada to please stop this military assault in Jolo, Sulu, because our father and the rest of the prayer warriors are all there and their lives are in danger right now. So please, beloved
President, may the Lord touch your heart to please stop any assault you are doing right now. It will just endanger the lives of those people up there. We love our father so much, I mean, he is important to us, he is our strength, we cannot imagine living in this world without him. So please, may the Lord touch your heart, to please stop the military assault."
SUPER CAPTION: Rachel Esguerra, daughter of hostage Wilde Almeda
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"After five months of shameless appeasement, he (Estrada) was back to the wall. As his press secretary declared he is back to the wall, and besides, people are already screaming for blood. I mean this is also like an opportunity for the administration to cover up its other failures..in the economy, corruption..., its not a very good period for the Erap (Estrada) administration and war is always a good diversion. It comes in handy."
SUPER CAPTION: Nelson Navarro, Political Analyst
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