Red Cross Hostages Watch 1

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) just got information that the Abu Sayyaf Group has just abandoned their Indanan camp, split into four groups and is still holding the hostages. Reports say that Andreas Notter has either been wounded or killed during a firefight. An alleged Singaporean terrorist is helping the terrorists, serving as their "interpreter", according to DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno.

AFP Task Force spokeman Edgard Arevalo said that the leadership is still looking for "signs of life", following conflicting reports that one of the three hostages has either been killed or wounded during the flight of the terror group from Indanan to a still unknown location.

There are, however, various reports from the ground confirming that, indeed, one or all of the hostages have already been killed by the group.

This is most distressing and shows the apparent disregard of the government on the lives of the hostages.

Yet, it is most appalling that the Abu Sayyaf Group just chose to sacrifice the lives of these innocent souls for the sake of self-preservation. Reports, yet unvalidated, say that the hostages were shot point-blank when the group was abandoning their camp and assuming defensive positions somewhere.

The death of the hostages serve as a reminder of the brutality of this group in pursuit of an ideal totally violative of the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Noble Qu'ran.

Yet, this is an even more glaring example of how this government bungle such a delicate matter of international concern. That simple gentleman's agreement between Senator Richard Gordon and ASG sub-commander Al Bader Parad should have been followed strictly by a testosterone-filled and war-freaked military who just broke the chain of command by not pulling out troops in those identified areas.

What the ASG is just trying to communicate is simply allow some "breathing room" for backroom negotiations to start. Yet, the military's desire to assault them has proved to be the hardest thing for this government to do.

Hope still flickers. Since these reports remain "unvalidated" New Philippine Revolution urges all the faithful, both Muslims and the People of the Book to pray for the safety of these innocents.

Innocent souls, like these Three Red Cross hostages, should not be made a party to this conflict. The war of Bangsamoro liberation is a local matter. The purity of the struggle under the Banner of Islam is now tainted by the souls of these innocents whose only desire is to dedicate their lives for the sake of the poor, the orphans and the widows in their affliction.

If our brother Muslims there in the mountains of Sulu think that, by getting these hostages, they are following the tenets of what Allah SWT said, let me remind them of this:

" Say (O Muhammad, PBUH) " Shall We Tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds?

Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds."

(Surah 18:103-104, Noble Qu'ran)

For good deeds to be accepted, it must follow two basic conditions: First, while doing these deeds, it must be for the glory of Allah SWT not to show-off or to gain praise or fame; second, a deed must be performed in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. Aishah said that the Messenger (PBUH) said, ` If somebody innovates something which is not present in our religion, then, that thing will be rejected' (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3 , Hadith no. 861).

Is it a good deed to waste the lives of innocents, tell me, my brothers? The killing of innocents during a time of war is an innovation. Such thing will not be accepted.

The glory of fighting is when you fight the real enemies, not perceived ones. Fight those who oppress the Muslim Ummah; those who make lives miserable to the Bangsamoro. Fight those who bear arms to see the destruction of Islam, not those whose deeds are for the service of the poor, the orphans and the widows in their affliction.