Rebels Say American Hostage Alive
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP) -
An American hostage held by Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines is still alive, a
guerrilla spokesman said Friday, nearly a month after the military launched a massive
operation to rescue him and four other hostages.
Abu Sabaya, spokesman for the
Abu Sayyaf rebels, called the Radio Mindanao Network to deny rumors that Jeffrey Schilling
had been killed - but refused to allow the American to be interviewed.
``Jeffrey Schilling is alive,
very much alive,'' Sabaya said, without giving details of his condition. It was the first
public statement by the rebels in nearly three weeks.
Sabaya had allowed Schilling to
speak during previous interviews with the radio station, and the American had appealed to
the government to negotiate with the rebels rather than pressing ahead with the military
operation.
The rebels, who say they are
fighting for a separate Islamic state in the southern Philippines, also hold three
Malaysians and one Filipino. The government regards the group as bandits.
Schilling, a Muslim convert
from Oakland, Calif., was taken captive Aug. 28 after he visited Sabaya's camp on Jolo
island, about 580 miles south of Manila. Schilling, whose wife is Sabaya's second cousin,
said rebel leaders seized him after they suspected he was a CIA agent - which he denies.
He also called the U.S. Embassy
in Manila and said the rebels wanted $10 million for his release, Philippine officials
said.
During the radio interview
Friday, Schilling's wife, Ivi Osani, appealed to the rebels to release her husband.
Sabaya denied military reports
that at least 129 rebels have been killed since the rescue operation was launched Sept. 16
and that he planned to surrender.
``The military must be dreaming
when officials said I will surrender and I deny that many Abu Sayyaf members have been
killed,'' he said. ``Those killed in the military operation were innocent civilians.''
The government says 53 rebels
have been captured and at least 30 have surrendered. Five government soldiers and three
militiamen have been killed in the assault.
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