Negotiator will not sue former hostage for
libel
This is because preacher Alvin Flores has conceded his statements about negotiator
Aventajado receiving ransom cuts are based on hearsay
MANILA -- Chief government
hostage negotiator Robert Aventajado has decided not to file a libel case against a former
hostage who alleged that he got a cut from ransoms paid to the Abu Sayyaf rebels after the
latter apologised.
Mr Alvin Flores and his
religious organisation, Jesus Miracle Crusade (JMC), apologised to Mr Aventajado on
Thursday, conceding that they had no first-hand knowledge of any wrongdoing and that their
earlier statements about him were based on ""hearsay''.
Meanwhile, his former
co-negotiator, Dr Parouk Hussin, said on Friday Mr Aventajado should still submit to an
investigation to debunk the accusations.
Mr Flores, one of 12 JMC
preachers recovered this week by government troops, said on a radio interview that
according to rebel leader Robot, Mr Aventajado and other government negotiators had made
more money than the hostage-takers did.
Mr Aventajado flatly denied
this and rebuffed calls that he face investigation.
Philippine President Joseph
Estrada has defended his flagship projects secretary, saying the latter still enjoyed his
trust.
However, Mr Flores said he
heard what he had heard -- Robot saying that Mr Aventajado took a cut from the ransom
payments.
In its Sept 29 issue, Asiaweek
magazine also quoted unnamed foreign envoys as claiming to have taped evidence that Mr
Aventajado padded the bandits' ransom demands and pocketed the balance.
In Malacanang, press secretary
Ricardo Puno said the Palace would take a second look at the allegations against Mr
Aventajado if the diplomats quoted by Asiaweek would reveal themselves.
""We have talked to
Aventajado and he said this is not true. He has repeatedly and vehemently denied it,'' Mr
Puno said.
But while Mr Estrada had
dismissed Robot's allegations as quoted by Mr Flores, the diplomats' supposed claims would
be a different matter if substantiated, he said.
An unnamed foreign envoy told
Asiaweek that Mr Aventajado had raised the hostage ""price'' that was agreed
upon by Robot and former Libyan Ambassador Rajab Azzarouq.
The Asiaweek report supported
the claims made by a Philippine Daily Inquirer source in July and August that a top
government negotiator had been getting cuts from the ransom payments.
The source said part of the
ransom payments had been deposited in three local banks, one of which had links with a
ranking official. --Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network
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