Loss of Oakleys doomed Sabaya

Loss of Oakleys
doomed Sabaya
Posted: 1:16 AM (Manila Time) | Jun. 22, 2002
By Christine Herrera
Inquirer News Service

THE BEGINNING of the end for Abu Sabaya came after the Abu Sayyaf leader lost his amulet - a pair of Oakley sunglasses - during a firefight with government troops two weeks ago, according to Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Reyes, however, surmised that what finally did Sabaya in were the US-supplied night vision goggles worn by an elite Special Warfare Group (SWAG) unit during Friday's gunbattle off Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.

"Sabaya's luck ran out because the military recovered his agimat (amulet) when troops rescued the Burnhams," said Reyes, who went to the Department of Foreign Affairs Friday to confer with Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. regarding the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement.

"He got lucky several times. Now, he's presumed dead," the defense secretary told DFA reporters.

The signature dark glasses had served Sabaya well in the jungles of Basilan or Sulu. He would never face newsmen and TV cameras without his Oakleys.

Donning a black bandana wrapped around his balding head and a matching black T-shirt, Sabaya projected an image of a ruthless bandit who would carry out his threat of beheading a hostage if ransom were not paid.

The military reported that Sabaya managed to elude pursuing troops in numerous encounters -- with nary a scratch to his sunglasses.

On June 7, however, Army Scout Rangers recovered Sabaya's pair of signature dark glasses in Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte, following a fierce firefight with his bandit group that was holding a US missionary couple and a Filipino nurse. Gracia Burnham was rescued, but Martin Burnham and Edibora Yap were killed.

Sabaya escaped again, but without his Oakleys.

Two weeks later, a special Navy team in night vision goggles caught up with Sabaya off the coast of nearby Sibuco town and finished him off.

"Our soldiers pressed on and did not let their guard down," Reyes said.

"Sabaya's death shows that crime does not pay and evil will not prevail."

Any theories on why wraps have become all the rage for the man-at-arms around town? I know that polycarbonate sunglasses, like Oakleys, provide a degree of ballistic protection against woodchips, rock splinters and low-velocity fragments -- they are designed to keep twigs from poking out mountain biker's eyes.

Good protection. I think clear Gargoyles are used by doctors in operating rooms to keep body fluid splatter from their eyes. I have never lost a pair of sunglasses in my life and have had Ray Ban Ambermatics, Diamondhard Wayfarers, Bolle Snakes (they are American owned now), and having no need of ballistic protection, now favor a pair of Maui Jims. Good optics.

I have never lost a pair of sunglasses in my life

I ALWAYS lose mine. My sunglasses have the average lifespan of a disposable razor. I never pay more than $11 for a pair, because I know they will be lost or broken within two weeks or less.

How do you do it?

"I ALWAYS lose mine. My sunglasses have the average lifespan of a disposable razor. I never pay more than $11 for a pair, because I know they will be lost or broken within two weeks or less.

How do you do it?"

Sunglasses were always work tools to me, and it isn't uncommon for a man to own one hammer all his life. I spent a lot of time outdoors, in really bright conditions, both on land and at sea. There was a time when I cycled a lot: that was when I got the Bolles. You can never use glass lenses where you might, at any moment, find your face on the pavement. If you didn't wear them, the bugs splattering against your retina would soon prompt you to.

I got the Ambermatics years and years ago because they adjusted to the light. One day they were inevitably scratched. So they went into the drawer and were replaced by the Diamondhards, which take a steel tool to scratch. But they don't bend in like polycarbonates, so they gave way to the Bolles when I was a bike fiend.

Now I've hung up my bike bottle, so quality optics is the primary consideration. In that game, Maui Jims (American made, too) are pretty near the top, without costing a bundle. Well, OK, less than $200. Incidentally, they've just come out with a line of titanium framed polycarbonates with nearly the same optical qualities as the glass. Great in every way, but I can't justify replacing the MJs I've got, and I have no prospect of losing them as an excuse to buy a new pair. Maybe I should get a little careless.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.