Four Malaysian hostages freed by Philippines rebels

Negotiator, Robert Aventajado, right, puts his hand on the shoulder of released Filipino hostage Richard Sintos, 17, on Thursday in Zamboanga city.

July 21, 2000
Web posted at: 8:08 a.m. HKT (0008 GMT)

JOLO, Philippines -- Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines on Friday freed four Malaysian hostages from a group of mostly Western hostages kidnapped months ago from a Malaysian diving resort.

Reporters saw the four driven into a military camp in the main town on Jolo island, 960 km (600 miles) south of Manila, at dawn. They waved to reporters but were not allowed to speak to them and military spokesmen had no immediate comment.

From Manila, CNN's Maria Ressa said the four were released late Thursday night, but were only brought to the camp Friday because the local airport had been closed.

She said the release of all the Malaysian captives had been expected as early as Tuesday, but squabbling among government emissaries and among the rebels had delayed the process.

There was no word on three remaining Malaysian hostages from the 21 people abducted by the Abu Sayyaf rebels from a Malaysian diving resort on April 23 and brought to Jolo.

MESSAGE BOARD Philippine kidnappings

The 21 comprised nine Malaysians, three Germans, two South Africans, two Finns, two French nationals, two Filipinos and a Lebanese. Two Malaysians and a German woman were released earlier.

Malaysia denied any ransom money was paid for the release.

On Thursday, the rebels released 17-year-old Filipino Richard Sintos, whom they had kidnapped on nearby Basilan island in May.

Sintos, whose father was a soldier killed in an encounter with the Abu Sayyaf before he was kidnapped, told reporters he feared the rebels would also kill him "but I begged for mercy."

Released German hostage Renate Wallert holds flowers after her arrival at a hospital in her hometown Goettingen, Lower Saxony, on Tuesday

Others still held

The rebels also hold 19 other captives, including a German reporter and three French television journalists seized earlier this month while covering the hostage drama, and 13 Filipino evangelists who went to the rebel bastion to pray for the hostages.

Two Filipina school teachers abducted in March were also still in captivity.

Sources close to the negotiations said on Thursday that the rebels were quarrelling among themselves over how to divide ransom money sent to them packed in five cardboard boxes.

As a result, the Malaysian hostages had now been split into two groups, they said.

Police sources and Manila newspapers said the rebels were paid 20 million pesos ($450,000) for releasing a Malaysian policeman and 40 million pesos ($890,000) for German woman Renate Wallert.

Intelligence sources earlier said the Abu Sayyaf had demanded $3 million for the release of the rest of the Malaysians but a senior officer said his information was they wanted 12.5 million pesos ($288,000) for each.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Philippine government denies hostages released
July 19, 2000
Philippine rebels release ailing German tourist
July 17, 2000
German journalist kidnapped trying to see Philippine hostages
July 2, 2000
Philippine rebels seek millions in ransom to end crisis
June 19, 2000

Philippine Information Agency
Library of Congress Country Studies: PHILIPPINES

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