Schilling fate up to Manila, says embassy
By Charmaine Deogracias and Macon
Ramos-Araneta
THE United
States is the fate of Jeffrey Craig Edward Schilling, the American kidnapped by the Abu
Sayyaf on suspicion of being a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent, entirely to the
hands of the Philippine government.
US Embassy
spokesman in Manila Thomas Skipper confirmed receipt of a transcript of Schilling’s
radio appeal over Radio Mindanao Network (RMN).
The American urged
Philippine and US officials to tap the help of Libya for negotiations with extremist Moro
separatists.
Skipper told THE
MANILA TIMES, however, that Schilling’s case “is all up to the Philippine
government now.”
Schilling’s
mother, Carol, telephoned a radio station in the southern Philippines to appeal for her
son’s release and thank the rebels for releasing a tape from him.
“Jeffrey is
not your enemy, nor am I. Whatever you hope to achieve will not be realized by holding my
son,” she said in the call to the RMN.
No deal
US State
Department officials earlier insisted on the unconditional release of the American, also
said to be a member of the militant nation of Islam.
The US government
said it would not pay ransom or negotiate any political deal with the Abu Sayyaf, which
has demanded the release of three suspects in the New York World Trade Center bombing.
American officials
had also earlier criticized the alleged payment of millions of dollars worth of ransom by
Libya for the freedom of Western hostages seized April 23 from Sipadan island, Malaysia.
Libya has played a
leading role in the negotiations for the Sipadan hostages, paying $1 million for the
freedom of each Westerner, but has resisted paying for the French journalists, saying
their company should be responsible.
Libya insists the
money is going for development projects, not into the pockets of the rebels.
The released
hostages, however, claimed they saw signs of money flooding into the rebel camp.
Rebels, they
added, have been showing off new clothes, golden jewelry and talked of newly-purchased
speedboats and motorcycles.
Senate probe
A senator demanded
yesterday a probe of the ransom payments, citing reports of huge ransom payments for the
hostages and claims that quarrels over missing funds led to the Saturday ambush of
emissaries on their way to collect the last four remaining Sipadan western hostages.
In a resolution,
Senate Minority Leader Teofisto Guingona also stressed the need to unmask officials who
reportedly received “commissions” from the rebels.
Guingona, quoting
unidentified sources, said the officials’ cuts were deducted before delivery of the
ransom.
The senator said
he would summon government chief negotiator Robert Aventajado and other members of the
negotiating panel, including former Libyan ambassador to the Philippines Rajab Azzarouq.
Those who
allegedly facilitated the transfer of ransom money would also be compelled to appear at
the Senate hearing.
“We may also
invite Kumander Dragon and Dragonito,” he said.
A Reuters feature
on Dragon stressed that he was “trusted” by negotiators to deliver ransom money
intact to the rebels.
Guingona
emphasized the public’s need to know whether money went directly to the Abu Sayyaf,
or was merely channeled to development projects in Mindanao.
If the funds are
in the form of development aid, Guingona said these should be coursed through government
agencies and be covered by regular budget procedures.
Back to Sipadan/Pandanan Hostages News
Back
to This Week's Borneo News |
