| French journalists
to be released within 24 hrs QUEZON CITY, (ABS-CBN) - Government negotiators are hopeful the two
French journalists being held by the Abu Sayyaf will be freed in the next 24 hours.
Jean-Jacques Le Garrec and Roland Madura of the France-2
Television Channel should have been freed last week if not for a squabble over money
between two Abu Sayyaf factions.
Former Libyan ambassador Rajab Azzarouq said that while they
are hopeful there is nothing definite, "the negotiation process has already
matured" and that they "only have to implement it."
Chief negotiator Robert Aventajado, on the other hand refused
to confirm the possible release tomorrow.
But Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said Aventajado
intimated to him that something will happen in the negotiations by Friday or Saturday at
the least.
Meanwhile, the government insisted it has handled the Abu
Sayyaf hostage crisis rightly.
The statement was issued following allegations that the
government has treated the bandit group with kid gloves.
America's formidable military tactics and firepower on display
once more in the Philippines. But they are, as Malacañang insisted only for special joint
exercises and not intended for later use against the Abu Sayyaf.
Were the United States to offer military assistance the
government at this point is not inclined to take it, as it has opted to give negotiations
one more try even if foreign analysts criticized the move as a mistake.
The government insisted it did right by avoiding the use of
force. The proof of this said Malacañang is that all the foreign Sipadan hostages were
recovered alive.
But it placed the government in a moral dilemma, where lives
were saved only after money was paid.
Malacañang admitted special anti-terrorist squads have been
redeployed. But it claimed this is just part of a regular rotation of uniformed personnel.
A peaceful solution said the government is still the way to go
no matter how foreign strategists and critics disapprove of the idea.
Seal of approval
Catholic leaders see nothing wrong with the planned use of
force against the Abu Sayyaf.
Bishop Teodoro Bacani said the Abu Sayyaf's abuses and
anti-Islamic practices should be stopped immediately.
Bacani also said the church supports the government's
no-ransom policy.
French defense consultant Jean Berternier reiterates France's
support to the Estrada administration should it decide to launch offensives against the
Abu Sayyaf.
Malaysian connection
Meanwhile, Malaysia bared that it will deploy more soldiers in
the island of Borneo after the Abu Sayyaf abducted another group of tourists in one of its
diving resorts.
The incident was the second kidnapping from the islands East of Sabah.
Critics hit the Philippine and Malaysian governments for
failing to stop the criminals.
Questions were raised about the absence of troops in the Sabah
islands despite the Sipadan hostage crisis.
Defense Minister Najib Razak said it is their policy to
station troops only on strategic islands. But now he assured soldiers will be deployed in
all islands that form part of Sabah State, on top of the forces already manning certain
islands.
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