| Malacañang denies RP-US offensive vs Abu Sayyaf MALACAÑANG (ABS-CBN) --
Malacañang on Friday belied reports that government and the US is set to launch joint
offensives against the Moslem extremist Abu Sayyaf group in effort to rescue American
hostages, Jeffrey Edwards Craig Schilling.
As this developed, the Palace has also ordered the background
checking of certain Ronaldo Sarmiento, who Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya wanted to
negotiate with for the release of Schilling.
Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said, in a radio interview,
that the US government committed to its earlier claims that it would not interfere on
Philippines' affairs despite threats of the Abu Sayyaf to execute the kidnapped victim.
Zamora made such statements in reaction to claims of
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Nur Misuari about the supposed action
plan being readied by the government against the Abu Sayyaf.
It was reported that Misuari claimed that he would soon be
meeting with Southern Command chief Diomedio Villanueva to finalize a military strategy
supposed to be used in rescuing Schilling.
Also, Zamora clarified the arrival of some 40 members of the
US Army elite force was not in any way related to the Schilling kidnapping. He said the
visit to the Philippines of the US Green Beret is official and related to the regular
exercises for both the country and the US forces under the Visiting Forces Agreement
(VFA).
"They are saying that this is completely an internal
affair of the Philippines. Hindi sila makikialam in the way of even planning for a
rescue attempt. Walang ganoon," Zamora said. [They won't interfere even in the
way of planning a rescue attempt. There's nothing like that]
Zamora also confirmed that chief government negotiator Robert
Aventajado will no longer be used in the Schilling case. It was President Estrada himself
who instructed the Cabinet Cluster E to not include Aventajado in the negotiations for the
release of the American hostage, he said.
In a related development, Puno said authorities have been
checking on the background of one Ronaldo Sarmiento after being mentioned by the Abu
Sayyaf as the person whom they want to negotiate with.
Sarmiento sent his taped-interview with Abu Sabaya to a local
radio in Zamboanga, where the latter has issued his group's initial set of conditions to
the government.
"We are still continuing to check on this individual. I
have already checked with some government officials and they said that he is not
authorized (to negotiate)," Puno told reporters in a press briefing.
Puno said, Sarmiento's name only cropped up following reports
that the government is in search for a government chief negotiator to replace Aventajado.
While the authorities are checking into Sarmiento's
background, the government, according to Puno has been urging the group of Abu Sabaya to
make real and firm contact with the government.
Sarmiento, on the other hand, has reportedly been waiting for
President Estrada's order as to whether he would pursue negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf,
Puno said quoting some reports from Mindanao.
Puno also reiterated the government wanted to secure the
release of Schilling using peaceful means.
"At this time, we are ruling out any military assault,
only if it becomes clear that we can no longer handle the situation peacefully will the
other options be considered," Puno said, stressing that this option does not
necessarily mean a military action.
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