Philippines Rebels Plan Release
By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP) -
Six Europeans held hostage for months in a southern Philippine jungle will be freed
Friday, their Muslim rebel captors said Wednesday.
Their release would leave one
foreigner - an American - and 12 Filipinos in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf rebels.
Rebel commander Ghalib
``Robot'' Andang telephoned negotiators to notify them of the date of the Europeans'
release, chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said.
Andang had promised 10 days ago
to free all the Europeans within two weeks. His rebel faction is holding two Finns, a
French and a German, all kidnapped April 23 from a Malaysian diving resort, and two French
journalists.
Negotiations for the release
American Jeffrey Schilling, 24, began Wednesday, officials said. Schilling is reportedly
being held by a separate Muslim rebel faction.
Provincial Vice Governor Munib
Estino, appointed by the government to negotiate for Schilling, traveled Wednesday to the
Abu Sayyaf's camp on southern Jolo island.
The rebels have not announced
their demands for Schilling's release, although rebel spokesman Abu Sabaya has privately
demanded $10 million, negotiators said.
``Once I touch the ground, I
will know what their demands and suggestions are,'' Estino said. The demands will be
relayed to the Philippine Cabinet, and if acceptable, ``then the job is finished,'' he
said.
Estino said he met earlier with
U.S. Embassy officials but declined to elaborate.
Schilling visited the Abu
Sayyaf camp on Aug. 28. Philippine reports said the rebels seized Schilling, who converted
to Islam in 1994, during an argument over religious and political issues.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer
said Sabaya invited Schilling to the camp on Jolo, about 580 miles south of Manila, to
discuss weapons purchases.
Schilling had planned to return
to Oakland, Calif., on Sept. 3, with his Filipino Muslim wife, Ivi Osani.
In a statement, Schilling's
mother, Carol, denied he went to the rebel 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, a graduate
of the University of California at Berkeley, had been concerned over the plight of Muslims
on the Philippines and had sent them money, food and clothing.
The Red Cross is waiting for
clearance from local officials to deliver food and medicines to Schilling, who reportedly
has asthma and other health problems. Also in the shipment is a letter from his wife.
``Please take your meal. You
need to eat for your body's sustenance,'' her 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 a second cousin of
Sabaya, the rebel spokesman, and the widow of an Abu Sayyaf rebel killed by government
forces.
Government efforts to free the
European hostages resumed this week after the return Tuesday of Libyan envoy Rajab
Azzarouq. Libya reportedly paid $6 million for the release of six other foreigners last
week, though it says the money was for development projects.
Azzarouq indicated Libya would
be willing to help free Schilling if asked to do so by the Philippine government.
``Of course we sympathize with
his predicament,'' he said. ``No one has approached us.''
The United States has
criticized Libya for paying ransom to the rebels and is unlikely to accept assistance from
a country it has labeled a supporter of international terrorism.
The Muslim rebels say they are
fighting for an independent Islamic state.
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