24 July 2000 - AFP

JOLO, Sulu (AFP) - Government emissaries were yesterday pressing the kidnappers to free the remaining Malaysians from among dozens of hostages held by Muslim rebels in the Southern Philippine island of Jolo amid reports the kidnappers had increased a ransom demand.

Sources close to government negotiators said Abu Sayyaf gunmen decided to ask for more money on top of an alleged three-million-dollar payment for the release of the Malaysian hostages.

The kidnapers' decision came after they reportedly realized the families of the three remaining Malaysian hostages were very concerned and could be forced into paying more, sources said.

This came after they learned that hostage Fong Ken Yin's father had earlier piloted a Sabah Air turboprop for Jolo expecting his son would be released.

"They raised the price when they saw his father, when they realized he was highly valued by his family," a source said.

The rebels are asking for an additional P15 to P20 million ($340,900$454,500) for each of the three, the sources said.

Fong was to have been released earlier along with the others but the fickle-minded Abu Sayyaf captors decided against it at the last minute, they added.

The trio are the last of nine Malaysians originally abducted along with 12 other Asian and Western hostages from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan on April 23.

Six of their compatriots as well as a German woman were released earlier this month. Two other teachers and a 16year-old boy abducted in March from nearby Basilan island were also released.

Apart from the three remaining Malaysians, Abu Sayyaf rebels are still holding three Germans, five French nationals, two South Africans, two Finns, a Lebanese, and 15 Filipinos.

The Philippine and Malaysian governments have repeatedly denied ransom was paid for the release of the 10 hostages.

However, intelligence sources have confirmed $3 million had been paid for the Malaysians and another million dollars for German teacher Renate Wallert.

On Saturday, intelligence sources said Abu Sayyaf gunmen were buying up guns using the money they raised from the abduction ahead of a possible government crackdown.

Government emissaries were reportedly pressing Abu Sayyaf rebels to free the Malaysian trio in time for President Joseph Estrada's 10-day official visit to the United States, which is to begin today.

Chief government negotiator Roberto Aventajado said over the weekend Abu Sayyaf leader Galib Andang had told him they wanted to release three women hostages from France, South Africa and Lebanon who were among those seized from Sipadan.

"The remaining Malaysians will come first and then probably the women in the next few days," Aventajado said.

He said government emissaries were "very near to coming up with an agreement" with the rebels with regard to the Malaysian and women hostages.

However, he said he did not want to tie "negotiating efforts to any particular date" but that more releases were expected "pretty soon."

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