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08 September 2000 - AP

Snags Threaten Philippine Hostages

By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP) - A shortage of ransom money may stop Muslim rebels from releasing all six Europeans they are still holding in the southern Philippines and prolong a 138-day hostage crisis, an official said Thursday.

The Abu Sayyaf rebels had pledged to release all six on Friday.

But they failed to telephone the negotiators as expected Thursday to confirm the release, an official close to the negotiating team said. Libyan officials who arrived this week brought only $4 million, or enough to pay for only four of the hostages, he said.

Libya has played a prominent role in negotiations for 21 people kidnapped April 23 from Malaysia's Sipadan diving resort. Last week it paid $6 million for the release of six other Westerners from the group, negotiators said. It insists the money will go for development projects, not directly to the rebels.

But Libya has resisted paying for two of the remaining hostages, both French television journalists seized while covering the hostage crisis, saying their company should foot the bill.

Other developments could also interfere with the planned release, the official said.

Rebel leader Ghalib ``Robot'' Andang, who is holding the hostages, had a severe quarrel with one of his four wives Thursday, and the brother of another rebel leader was killed Wednesday in a motorcycle accident, he said.

Negotiators said they would still travel Friday to Jolo island in hopes the European hostages would be released. Ambassadors from the hostages' countries were scheduled to fly to the southern port city of Zamboanga to receive the captives from negotiators.

The rebels are still holding two Finns, a French and a German from Sipadan and the two journalists in their camp on Jolo island, as well as 12 Filipino Christian evangelists who were captured in early July. A Filipino hostage from Sipadan was taken to the camp of another rebel faction.

A separate faction also is holding an American man, Jeffrey Schilling, kidnapped early last week.

The government negotiator working for Schilling's release said emissaries have contacted rebel spokesman Abu Sabaya, who belongs to that faction, but negotiations had not yet begun. ``As of this moment Abu Sabaya's group keeps on moving for security reasons,'' provincial Vice Governor Munib Estino said.

The rebels have not announced their demands for Schilling's release, although Sabaya has privately demanded $10 million, negotiators said.

Schilling, 24, from Oakland, Calif., was seized Aug. 28 when he visited an Abu Sayyaf camp with his Filipino Muslim wife, Ivi Osani.

Presidential Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said Schilling appears to be in good condition, despite earlier reports. ``He's not undergoing rough treatment. He's OK,'' Puno said.

Philippine officials have questioned whether the case is a simple kidnapping since Osani is Sabaya's second cousin and the widow of a rebel killed by government forces. Osani was not abducted and is being held in protective custody in a military hospital.

``It could either be pure love or there could be a lot of intrigue in the background,'' Puno said. ``At this time we cannot say with any finality what her role was. But it certainly was not a passive one since she made arrangements for him to go to the camp.''

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