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MANILA, Philippines - Philippine security forces are limiting food, water and other supplies to Islamic militants holding three Red Cross workers in an attempt to force their release, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.
Although the soldiers have stopped pursuing the Abu Sayyaf rebels, they have surrounded them in a remote region of the southern island of Jolo and have stepped up pressure on them, Lieutenant-Colonel Edgard Arevalo, a military spokesman, told reporters.
"We are holding on our previous position because we would like to give way to negotiations to free the hostages," Arevalo said.
"The modern principle of war is sustainability. We're only trying to wear them down by preventing reinforcements and resupply. We're keeping the pressure without having to resort to offensive actions."
Last week, the head of the local Red Cross, Senator Richard Gordon, said the military bungled his effort to free one of three hostages when the local commander prematurely ordered the retreat of troops pursuing the rebels.
He had said he could get one of the hostages released in exchange for halting the advance of the troops.
The International Committee of the Red Cross hostages -- Swiss national Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba -- have been held on Jolo since Jan. 15.
The Abu Sayyaf, a small Islamic militant group with ties to regional network Jemaah Islamiah, had threatened to behead one of the hostages to ease military pressure after a firefight erupted last week, killing nine people and wounding dozens.
The rebel group, notorious for kidnappings, has a history of beheading captives. In June 2001, American Guillermo Sobero was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf on Basilan island, near Jolo, after Manila turned down negotiations.
The Abu Sayyaf has demanded the withdrawal of the military from their areas in exchange for freeing the Red Cross captives.
Newspapers have said they have also demanded a ransom, with one estimate put at $1 million.
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