AVENTAJADO DENIES BEHEADING OF PREACHER
JOLO, SULU (ABS-CBN) - Chief
government negotiator Robert Aventajado denied on Friday reports that the extremist Abu
Sayyaf group beheaded one of the 13 Christian evangelists in their lair. The group is
headed by Jesus Miracle Crusade (JMC) leader Wilde Almeda.
The religious group ventured to the rebel lair last Saturday
after paying the extremist group $3,000 and 35 sacks of rice. The JMC sought to pray over
the foreign hostages of the Abu Sayyaf.
Abu Sayyaf commander Galib Andang, alias Commander Robot
earlier denied they are holding the missionaries as captives saying the latter volunteered
to remain in the area for a 40-day "religious fast."
Aventajado's assertion comes after Talipao mayor Tambrin
Tulawie said he received reports of the beheading from people in the area.
Aventajado also confirmed plans by the Abu Sayyaf leaders to
further divide their hostages into groups of 10 to foil any rescue attempt by government
troops.
On Thursday, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said the Abu
Sayyaf group indeed held the preachers against their will saying a ransom of P7 million
was being demanded for their release.
Also, a Filipino journalist who visited the Abu Sayyaf camp in
the village of Tiis Kutung told colleagues he took photographs of Almeda and his 12
followers with their hands tied behind their backs.
It was also reported earlier that Abu Sayyaf kidnappers
figured in a near shootout among themselves, as one faction tried to seize and liquidate
Almeda and his 12 followers.
One faction of the Abu Sayyaf reportedly demanded the
P7-million ransom, while the other faction wanted to kill them.
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