ZAMBOANGA CITY - Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya yesterday denied they have
demanded $10 million ransom for their American hostage Jeffrey Edward Craig Schilling's
safe release and another P5 million as goodwill money before talks for his release will
start.
The ASG spokesman made clear that the group is not
interested in collecting ransom from the American or Philippine government.
He said they are interested this time on their political
demand from the national and United States government. He declined to enumerate their
political demands, saying that their official demand will be made public only when they
will be able to talk with the official negotiator of the government for the American.
The denial was made yesterday morning live on air over
Radio Mindanao Network, DxRZ radio station based in this city.
Sabaya is constantly contacting DxRZ to make some
announcements about their group activities and position on their captives in Sulu.
Meanwhile, Sabaya yesterday expressed surprise why
Malacañang officials declined to admit that they have named a certain Roland Sarmiento to
undertake negotiations with them for Schilling's release.
Reports said that the national government in concurrence
with the US Embassy has agreed to name Sarmiento as the official government negotiator for
the safe release of Schilling from the hands of the ASG.
Sabaya said they will talk with Sarmiento on terms and
other conditions for the release of the American national only when the national
government recognizes him as official government negotiator.
As of the moment, he said, Malacañang officials do not
recognize Sarmiento as their negotiator. This has led top Abu Sayyaf leaders to halt
temporarily the scheduled talks.
The Abu Sayyaf has continued to insist that they have taken
captive a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent of the United States of America.
The claim has been denied by the US government on several
occasions, saying that Schilling was just a plain tourist when they abducted him.
