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Manila Hopeful on Release of Remaining Hostages Soon
The Philippine government said Wednesday that it is hopeful the extremist Abu Sayyaf will release the remaining batch of hostages it kidnapped from Sipadan island in Malaysian anytime this week.
Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot, who leads the faction keeping the Sipadan hostages on Jolo island from April 23 this year, promised to release all of them this time.
He said in a radio interview that he is likely to leave for Jolo anytime this week to receive the hostages, and later bring them to Zamboanga City.
In Zamboanga, a media pooling system has been set up to prevent confusion over reports on the status of the hostages' release, he said.
Government efforts to secure the safe release of the Sipadan hostages resumed after former Libyan Ambassador Rajab Azzarouq returned to the Philippines Tuesday.
Azzarouq represented a foundation headed by the son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in negotiating the release of six Western hostages more than a week ago.
Aventajado said Robot has committed to releasing the remaining batch composed of six Europeans and a Filipino.
"I expect Robot to fulfill his promise," Aventajado said.
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