Manila Expects Release of Malaysian HostagesThe Philippine government negotiators said Friday that they expect the Abu Sayyaf extremists to release in the following days the three Malaysians whom they have held captive with two Filipinos and nine other foreigners at their jungle hideout in Sulu.Secretary Robert Aventajado, the chief negotiator for the government, said in a radio interview that the Malaysians could be freed after a meeting he would conduct with Malaysian officials in Zamboanga City on Saturday. "If we can come up with an agreement, we could work out their release Sunday or Monday," Aventajado said in a radio interview. He said the meeting with Malaysian officials, whom he did not name, would likely involve the demand of Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot for livelihood projects. Aventajado said Robot's latest demand is a mango plantation. Robot had relayed his demand through a designated go-between identified only as Dragon, he said. He denied reports that the meeting was intended to discuss a 45-million-peso (1.12-million-U.S. dollar) ransom payment for the Malaysians' freedom. Meanwhile, Aventajado reiterated that the government has not deviated from its no-ransom policy, notwithstanding speculations to the contrary, in some sectors. He said the government has no choice but to follow that policy, pointing out that it has already been spelled out at the early stages of the hostage crisis. But Aventajado said that the government had no hand in the release of German journalist Andreas Lorenz, who was abducted and released twice after paying ransom. |
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