| WAS GERMAN
HOSTAGE FREED FOR US$1 MILLION? By LUZ BAGUIORO
PHILIPPINES CORRESPONDENT
MANILA -- Speculation was rife
here that US$1 million (S$1.7 million) was paid to Muslim extremists yesterday to gain the
freedom of ailing German flute teacher Renate Wallert after 85 days in captivity.
Mrs Wallert -- the first
Western hostage released by the kidnappers in the protracted crisis -- was flown from Jolo
to Zamboanga city, where she transferred to a private jet to Manila and flew home to
Germany aboard a Lufthansa flight last night.
""We are confident
that with this development, we will be able to see all hostages released safe and sound --
and soon,'' President Joseph Estrada said after word of her release by Abu Sayyaf rebels
to chief hostage negotiator Robert Aventajado.
""But we still have
some ways to go. This is a very complex, delicate and difficult situation.''
There was no official
confirmation that ransom was paid, but Mr Aventajado was seen alighting from a military
helicopter in Jolo island with two big duffel bags.
Whether they contained wads of
cash is not known, but previous Abu Sayyaf kidnappings are known to have been resolved
peacefully only after money has been paid.
""I'm very happy. I
am safe now but I will be missing my husband and son. I hope they will be freed soon,
too,'' Mrs Wallert, 57, said as she staggered out of an armoured military truck.
She suffered from hypertension
at the kidnappers' jungle lair and contemplated suicide during her nearly three-month
ordeal. She looked pale and sickly. 2 The Abu Sayyaf gunmen had sought US$1 million for
each of the original 21 hostages who were kidnapped on April 23 from the Sipadan resort
island and brought to Jolo's jungles. 2 Manila denied paying any ransom for the earlier
release of two Malaysian captives, but sources insist money did change hands.
Mrs Wallert's husband Werner
and son Marc remain in the kidnappers' hideout with 36 other captives, including 13
Filipino-Christian preachers, a French TV crew of three and a German journalist who were
seized in recent weeks.
Mr Aventajado said she was
released as a ""goodwill gesture'' and was optimistic that more of those still
detained will be out soon.
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