Muslim rebels release Filipina hostage on Jolo

August 16, 2000
Web posted at: 5:27 PM HKT (0927 GMT)

TAGBAK, Philippines (Reuters) -- Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines on Wednesday released a Filipina kidnapped with 20 other people from a Malaysian diving resort almost four months ago.

Reporters saw Lucrecia Dablo, 35, who worked as a cook in the Sipadan island resort, being driven into a small military camp on the edge of rebel-held territory on the island of Jolo and handed over to chief negotiator Robert Aventajado.

Soaked from pouring rain and sobbing, Dablo hugged Aventajado and said: "This is a dream...it's a dream."

Aventajado said the other hostages, mostly foreigners, would be released before the weekend. "This is the start," he said.

The Abu Sayyaf rebels kidnapped 21 people, including 10 tourists, from Sipadan island on April 23 and took them to Jolo.

Besides Dablo, six Malaysians and a German woman have been released. The rebels still hold three Malaysians, a Filipino and nine tourists -- two Germans, three French including a Lebanese-born woman given French citizenship while in custody, two Finns and two South Africans.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For more ASIANOW news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian media sites

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.