Philippine Hostages Soon Free
By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer
JOLO, Philippines (AP) -
Philippine troops located the area on a remote island where Muslim rebels were believed to
be holding an American hostage and moved in on the site Thursday, a presidential spokesman
said.
The jungle assault on the
separatist Abu Sayyaf rebels on the southern island of Jolo began in the afternoon, and
Ricardo Puno said military officials believe ``there are hopeful and promising signs that
they may be able to get something accomplished in the very, very near future.''
Jeffrey Schilling, from
Oakland, Calif., was among 19 hostages the Abu Sayyaf held on the run across Jolo last
weekend after the military began a major mission to rescue the captives.
On Thursday, a radio station
broadcast the first interview with Schilling since the rescue assault began Saturday. In
the interview, conducted by satellite telephone, he appealed to the Philippine government
to halt the mission and resume negotiations.
``I'm still alive,'' Jeffrey
Schilling said. ``I'm fine.''
The interview, conducted by the
Radio Mindanao Network, was the first confirmation that Schilling was alive. In it, he
said many civilians were being hurt by the assault, creating more support for the rebels.
``I am appealing to negotiators
to talk to the U.S. government and have the operations immediately ceased, the
negotiations continue,'' he said.
Government officials believed
Schilling was being controlled.
``I think Mr. Sabaya was
telling him what to say and Mr. Sabaya was using him for his own propaganda efforts,''
said Puno, the presidential spokesman.
In California, Schilling's
mother, Carol, said she was relieved he was alive.
``I am very worried about his
safety right now,'' she said. ``I hope that he is released soon.''
A faction of the Abu Sayyaf
grabbed Schilling, a Muslim convert, three weeks ago when he visited a rebel camp with his
Filipino wife and reportedly angered rebel leaders during an argument about religion and
politics.
A separate faction led by
Ghalib ``Robot'' Andang is believed to be holding 16 other hostages, although a Cabinet
official admitted Thursday that the military has lost track of three Malaysian hostages.
Two French journalists escaped
from the rebels Tuesday night, leaving Schilling, the three Malaysians and 13 Filipinos
still in captivity.
Rebel spokesman Abu Sabaya,
speaking in the same interview as Schilling, acknowledged that four of his men had been
killed and said the rebels were open to negotiations with the Philippine and U.S.
governments.
Using their satellite phone,
the rebels have sought Libya's help in restarting negotiations, a Cabinet official said.
But the military is not likely to be interested, he said.
The military announced Thursday
that 18 rebels were confirmed dead and 42 others were reported dead but had not been
confirmed. Six government troops were injured in the six days of fighting, it said.
Four civilians who were earlier
reported dead were actually only injured, military spokesman Gen. Generoso Senga said.
However, wounded civilians interviewed at Jolo's hospital said they personally witnessed
the deaths of at least three other villagers shot by the military.
President Joseph Estrada said
Wednesday he would order a halt to the attack if all the hostages are freed.
He portrayed the escape of the
two French journalists as vindication of his decision to use force against the rebels.
The attack had been strongly
criticized by French President Jacques Chirac, who said it could endanger the hostages.
The two journalists-
Jean-Jacques Le Garrec and Roland Madura of France-2 television - headed home Wednesday
after crediting their nighttime escape to the army assault.
The two men were seized July 9
while visiting a rebel camp to interview other hostages.
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