05 September 2000 - Manila Times

By Manny B. Marinay

A FACTION of the Abu Sayyaf bandits operating in Jolo, Sulu, rejected yesterday a local official appointed by President Estrada to negotiate the release of an American they are holding hostage in their jungle camp in the town of Patikul.

The bandits also threatened to boycott any talks for the release of Jeffrey Schilling, from Oakland, California, if Malacañang does not designate a negotiator from the national government.

The government named on Saturday Sulu Vice Governor Munib Estino as negotiator vice the mysterious Rolando Sarmientao. The Abu Sayyaf faction of Khadafy Janjalani and Abu Sabaya has been holding the 24-year-old American since last Monday.

“We are negotiating with the government because we have political demands, but if Erap insists on Vice Governor Estino as negotiator, maybe we should not talk anymore,” spokesman Abu Sabaya told the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN).

Sabaya, who claimed many anti-American groups have offered to pay the rebels not to release Schilling to embarrass the Philippine and US governments, demanded that the US sends an emissary “if they want a quick end to the almost two-week crisis.”

He said a negotiator from the national government will do, and even named businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and presidential brother-in-law and adviser Raul de Guzman as possible replacements for Estino.

Sabaya stressed that Estino and other local officials should only serve as “facilitators” and threatened anew to behead Schilling should Malacañang refuse to heed his group’s demand for a new negotiator.

Sarmiento, an alias of a colonel in the Intelligence Service of the Armed forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and appears to be personally known to Sabaya, said he would remain active in the talks for the American’s release even with the appointment of new negotiators.

Fuzzy circumstances

The circumstances surrounding, and the motive behind, the American’s seizure by the bandits remained fuzzy.

There were reports that he was seized from his residence in Zamboanga City, but other accounts said that Schilling and his wife voluntarily went to the bandits’ lair in Patikul, Jolo, but was taken hostage after he angered the rebels in an argument over religious issues.

Schilling, 24, converted to Islam several years ago and has been living in southern Zamboanga City since March with Ivi Osani, second cousin of Sabaya, and reportedly was married to a rebel who died several years ago.

Osani, who was not kidnapped by the rebels and is being held in protective custody in a hospital, said Sabaya invited her and Schilling to visit the rebel camp in Jolo, near Zamboanga.

The bandits wanted to talk to Schilling about buying night-vision goggles and weapons for them during his upcoming trip to the United States. Schilling had planned to return to California on Sept. 3, reportedly to prepare for Osani to move there with him.

They accused Schilling of being an agent of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and on spying on the Abu Sayyaf, thus the move to kidnap him, but there were reports that the American was working for a Muslim terrorist group allied with the Abu Sayyaf.

Police authorities had earlier claimed that the seizure of the American was a “kidnap-me scheme.”

Stop talks

In the Senate, meantime, lawmakers demanded the cessation of talks with the bandits should reports are confirmed that Schilling “is in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf.”

Senators Rodolfo Biazon and Robert Barbers demanded a thorough background check on the American and if allegations that he is with the bandits are confirmed, then the talks for his release must be immediately terminated.

The duo also sought a military strike against the Abu Sayyaf bandits, reacting to police intelligence reports that Schilling is a volunteer human shield for the bandits. 

Sen. Gringo Honasan, however, opposed these recommendations, saying that “in the name of universal principle,” negotiations for Schilling’s release should proceed.

He also rejected Biazon’s call for the suspension of peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Honasan, who had led coup tries against former president Cory Aquino, said that “going back to the negotiating table is the only solution to the raging conflict in Mindanao.”

A senior police official has also expressed doubts that an assault on the Abu Sayyaf lairs would be successful, noting that the bandits are not only well armed but are psychologically prepared for such an eventuality.

Hunger strike

On Saturday, Sabaya said Schilling had begun a hunger strike, but gave no details.

Philippine Red Cross officials are seeking clearance from the Abu Sayyaf and the military to deliver food and medicine to the rebel camp for Schilling. US officials say he is seriously ill and needs regular prescription medicine, but the nature of his condition was not clear.

Another faction of the Abu Sayyaf, identified with Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot and Muhjib Susukan, is holding six other Westerners and 12 Filipinos. The group freed six hostages last week for a reported $6-million ransom, paid by Libya. It had freed other hostages earlier.

Negotiators are hoping to secure the release of the six Westerners, including two French television journalists, after the return of a Libyan envoy on Monday.

Libya has played a prominent role in the negotiations for 21 people, mostly foreigners, kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf from a Malaysian diving resort on April 23.

The Abu Sayyaf is also holding 12 Filipino Christian evangelists who were seized in early July when they visited the rebels’ camp to pray for the other hostages.

The group’s leader, Wilde Almeda, is reportedly in serious condition after apparently suffering a stroke.

Beheaded

The Janjalani-Sabaya faction was responsible for kidnapping about 50 schoolchildren and teachers in March on neighboring Basilan island.

Two of the teachers were beheaded after the United States ignored the group’s demand for the release of several Arab terrorists held in US jails. The faction also tortured and killed a Catholic priest.

The bandits privately demanded $10 million for Schilling’s release on Thursday, with Sabaya saying that, “One American is worth 10 Europeans.”

Sabaya, however, said they would announce political and not financial demands soon.

The US State Department has ruled out paying ransom to the Abu Sayyaf, which it classifies as a terrorist group threatening Americans worldwide.

Estino, meantime, said yesterday that the Janjalani-Sabaya faction has not made any concrete political or monetary demands.

The Sulu official even flatly denied that the bandits have demanded a $10-million ransom for Schilling.

“All these talks on their (the bandits’) demands are mere speculations,” according to Estino, who is credited for securing the release of two Filipina teachers and a 16-year-old earlier held hostage by another Abu Sayyaf group.
--with Macon Ramos-Araneta and Marian Trinidad

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