Some Philippine hostages may be freed next week

August 6, 2000
Web posted at: 8:06 AM HKT (0006 GMT)

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, (Reuters) -- Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines may release some hostages next week from among a group they kidnapped more than three months ago, government officials and police sources said on Saturday.

Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado told reporters in the city of Zamboanga that three Malaysian hostages could be released "either on Monday or Tuesday."

On Jolo, the remote southern island where the hostages are being held, police sources said the Abu Sayyaf rebels and government negotiators had concluded talks on the release of the Malaysian hostages as well as two South African captives.

They said also the rebels had strewn home-made land mines along the approaches to their camp in the hills of Jolo, 960 km (600 miles) south of Manila, to prevent any armed rescue.

The rebels kidnapped 21 people from a Malaysian resort island on April 23 and spirited them away to Jolo, where they have hideouts in the hills. They have since released six Malaysians and a German woman.

But they still hold three more Malaysians, two other Germans, three French including a Lebanese-born woman who was granted French citizenship during captivity, two Finns, two South Africans and two Filipinos.

Six journalists covering the saga have also been kidnapped and three of them, a German and a Filipino couple, have been released. The rebels are still holding a three-member French television crew.

The rebels are also holding 13 Filipino evangelists who had gone to the guerrilla camp to pray for the hostages.

Aventajado flew to Zamboanga to meet Malaysian officials who have been pressing for the release of their compatriots. Zamboanga, the nearest big city, is 150 km (100 miles) to the northeast of Jolo.

Aventajado said rebel chief Galib Andang "was telling me they are ready to release everybody so they are just waiting for our move."

"I said: 'You know I am still putting everything together' Once I have done that we can expect releases quickly."

Aventajado has said Andang communicates directly with him using a satellite phone belonging to the French TV crew.

Local officials have said large ransoms have been paid for those released and negotiations now going on are in the range of about $1 million for each of the Caucasian hostages and about $350,000 for each of the others.

The Philippine government and other governments whose nationals are involved have denied any money has been paid.

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