European hostages freed Friday, says Aventajado
THE government’s
chief negotiator said yesterday all the six European hostages of the Abu Sayyaf terrorists
will be freed tomorrow, Friday.
Chief
government negotiator Robert Aventajado said an Abu Sayyaf rebel commander telephoned to
tell him the date.
The commander,
Ghalib “Robot” Andang, had earlier said the release would be either Thursday or
Friday.
“There were
minor details which we were supposed to work out today but we were unable to do, so it was
postponed for Friday,” Aventajado said.
Andang agreed to
free all six Europeans, he said.
In Malacañang,
officials said the Filipino hostages led by Christian evangelist Wilde Almeda are excluded
from the “global release” of the captives today.
Press Secretary
Ricardo Puno Jr. told a press briefing there will be separate negotiations for the release
of Almeda and his “prayer warriors” belonging to the Jesus Miracle Crusade.
But Puno added the
terrorists have indicated their willingness to allow Almeda, who is reportedly ill, to
leave Patikul. He also said the terrorists would allow the evangelist to choose two
original members of his group to go with him
Government efforts
to free the European hostages resumed after the return on Tuesday of Libyan envoy Rajab
Azzarouq, who has played a prominent role in the talks. Libya bankrolled a $6-million
ransom paid for the release of six other foreigners last week, negotiators said.
There were reports
that Libya will also pay the ransom for the Europeans set to be freed this week.
Azzarouq revealed
to Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a meeting yesterday that the Gadhafi
International Foundation is ready to pay between $8 and $11 million for the release of the
remaining hostages.
Azzarouq described
the amount as “humanitarian aid and development assistance” in exchange for the
release of the hostages.
For her part,
Macapagal-Arroyo said she welcomes any foreign assistance for the release of the hostages
on condition that there is proper coordination with the government.
Aventajado
announced then that negotiators had reached an agreement with rebel commander Ghalib
“ Robot” Andang for the release of all the Europeans. The remaining six include
four people kidnapped April 23 from a Malaysian diving resort and two French journalists
covering the hostage crisis.
Andang’s
faction in the Abu Sayyaf is also holding 12 Filipino Christian evangelists who entered
their camp in early July to pray for the hostages.
Schilling
A separate
militant faction is holding a 24-year-old American, Jeffrey Schilling, who was seized Aug.
28 when he visited their camp.
Azzarouq confirmed
a report of THE MANILA TIMES that his country would help negotiate Schilling’s
freedom if officially asked by the Philippine government.
Some reports had
it that the rebels abducted Schilling, who converted to Islam in 1994, as a result of an
argument with him over religious and political issues.
Abu Sayyaf
spokesman Abu Sabaya invited Schilling to their camp on Jolo island, about 940
kilometers (580 miles) south of Manila, to discuss purchases of weapons for them during
his upcoming trip to the United States.
Schilling had
planned to return to Oakland, California, on Sept. 3, to prepare for a later move there
with his Filipino Muslim wife, Ivy Osani.
In a statement
Tuesday, Schilling’s mother, Carol, denied that he went to the Abu Sayyaf camp to
negotiate about weapons.
“He is not
now nor has he ever been involved in arms dealing,” she said. “These allegations
are groundless.”
She said Schilling
had been concerned over the plight of the Muslim minority in the predominantly Christian
Philippines and had sent money, food and clothing to the Philippine Muslim community.
“Jeffrey went
to the Philippines in search of a deepening of his Islamic faith. Now the Abu Sayyaf is
holding him,” she said. “I call on Abu Sabaya, as a Muslim and as a human being,
to release my son unharmed.”
Hunger strike
A government
emissary who visited the camp Tuesday said Schilling has ended a several-day hunger strike
but is still being held in a heavily guarded bamboo hut. Schilling’s legs have been
tied as a result of an earlier escape attempt, he said.
The Red Cross is
waiting for clearance from local officials to deliver a shipment of food and medicines to
Schilling, who reportedly has asthma and other health conditions. Also in the shipment is
a letter from his wife, Osani, dated Sept. 4.
“Please take
your meal. You need to eat for your body’s sustenance,” the letter says. “Never
worry about me. I am fine. We have much to do and I know Allah will be with us. I’ll
keep in touch with your Mom. I love you.”
Osani is Sabaya’s
second cousin and the widow of a rebel who was killed in fighting with government forces
several years ago. She says she accompanied Schilling to Jolo but was not seized.
--Joel R. San Juan, Mirasol Ng-Gadil, Macon Ramos-Araneta and AP
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