Philippine Rebels Claims Evasion
By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer
JOLO, Philippines (AP) - Muslim
rebels holding an American hostage claimed on Tuesday that they escaped the southern
Philippine island where 5,000 troops have pursued them for 11 days.
Rebel spokesman Abu Sabaya said
his guerrilla faction and American Jeffrey Schilling are no longer on Jolo Island.
Two other Abu Sayyaf rebel
factions holding three Malaysian and 13 Filipino hostages are believed to still be in
Jolo's jungle.
Sabaya taunted the military in
an interview with the Radio Mindanao Network, saying they would take 10 years to find the
rebels. He threatened to seize more foreign hostages if Schilling is rescued.
Villagers said they saw several
hundred Abu Sayyaf rebels taking Schilling toward a beach on Jolo over the weekend.
Government officials say they believe all the hostages are still on the remote island.
The rebels, who say they are
seeking an independent Islamic state, have kidnapped scores of people since March. Most
have been released, with Libya and Malaysia reportedly paying more than $15 million in
ransom.
President Joseph Estrada halted
talks and attacked the rebels after they continued to kidnap new hostages despite
negotiations. That decision has been widely supported by Filipinos.
The attack, which began Sept.
16, has forced more than 60,000 villagers to flee their homes, local officials said
Tuesday. Most are staying with relatives or in overcrowded schools used as emergency
shelters.
The military insists that only
two civilians have been killed and four injured in the assault, but unconfirmed reports
continue to mount of much higher casualties.
Civilians on the predominantly
Muslim island have been reluctant to report casualties, local medical officials say.
Independent verification has
been impossible because the military has blocked access to many areas of Jolo and has
prevented most journalists from reaching the island.
The American hostage telephoned
the U.S. Embassy on Monday but did not say where he was, embassy spokesman Tom Skipper
said.
He said he was ``physically OK
but tired,'' Skipper said.
Schilling, 24, from Oakland,
California, urged the U.S. Embassy to negotiate for his release, presidential spokesman
Ricardo Puno said. The U.S. State Department has said it is leaving the responsibility for
solving the hostage crisis with the Philippine government.
Schilling, a Muslim convert,
went to an Abu Sayyaf camp with his Filipino wife on Aug. 28 and was taken hostage after
arguing with rebel leaders about religion and politics.
Back to Sipadan/Pandanan Hostages News
Back
to This Week's Borneo News |
