'Operation Rescue Jolo'

Episode on September 8, 2007 Saturday late night Sine Totoo takes us back to seven years ago as it reruns “Operation: Rescue Jolo" – Brigada Siete’s special coverage on the Erap administration’s all-out-war against the Abu Sayyaf. In September 2000, former President Joseph Estrada ordered an all-out military assault against the Abu Sayyaf Group. The ASG had just kidnapped 17 persons in Jolo, including American Jeffrey Schilling. While the AFP conducted the rescue operations, it imposed a media black out – no media organization was allowed inside Jolo at the time. Despite the blackout, reporter Michael Fajatin found a way inside Jolo– successfully avoiding the tight naval blockade. He confirmed what many feared…that countless civilians had also been killed by the military offensive. Michael interviewed women and children who described the bombs dropping everywhere - burning their houses and killing even the guests at a barrio wedding. Seven years later, the Abu Sayyaf is still a thorn in the side of government, which has waged all out war yet again, against the group. On the set with Sine Totoo host Howie Severino, Michael Fajatin shares his views on the struggle … and why he thinks war is not the solution to the Abu problem. Sine Totoo brings viewers a though-provoking look at the Abu-Sayyaf on this Saturday’s episode, airing late night over GMA-7.

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Babalikan ng Sine Totoo ang giyera sa Jolo pitong taon na ang nakalilipas. Tampok ang “Operation: Rescue Jolo" ng Brigada Siete… isang espesyal na ulat ukol sa all-out-war ng administrasyong Erap laban sa bandidong Abu Sayyaf. Noong Setyembre 2000, ipinag-utos ni dating Pangulo Joseph Estrada ang isang malakihang opensiba upang iligtas ang 17 hostages na hawak noon ng Abu Sayyaf - kasama ang Amerikanong si Jeffrey Schilling. Habang isinasagawa ang rescue operation, nagpatupad ng media black out ang AFP – lahat ng impormasyon ukol sa labanan ay as South Command lamang nanggagaling. Sa kabila nito, nakahanap ng paraan ang beteranong reporter na si Michael Fajatin upang pumasok ng Jolo. Nakumpirma niya na napakaraming sibilyan ang naipit sa gitna ng labanan kasama na ang mga dumalo lang sa isang kasalan. Ngayon, makalipas ang pitong taon, hindi pa rin nauubos ang mga miyembro ng Abu Sayyaf at muli na namang iniutos ng pamahalaan ang isang all-out war. Kasama si Howie Severino ng Sine Totoo, inilahad ni Michael Fajatin ang mga pananaw niya ukol sa giyera. Pag-uusapan nila kung digmaan nga ba ang solusyon para matapos ang krisis sa Mindanao. Magbalik-tanaw at alamin kung saan nga ba tayo dinala ng digmaan sa Sine Totoo, sa ika-8 ng Setyembre, Sabado ng hatinggabi, sa GMA.