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Philippine Government Rejects Abu Sayyaf's Demand on Negotiator
The Philippine government Thursday rejected the demand of Abu Sayyaf to appoint a foreign negotiator in the ongoing hostage crisis in southern Philippines.
Presidential Spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao reiterated that only William Castillo, the military intermediary earlier appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is the authorized representative of the government to talk with the Abu Sayyaf, the Philippine Daily Inquirer online news reported.
Tiglao was reacting to a radio report that the bandit group demanded the intervention of Sairin Karno, a former Malaysian senator who is a Muslim himself, within 72 hours or they will behead one American hostage.
The Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines also clarified it will not intervene with the country's hostage crisis by appointing a negotiator.
Tiglao said that Castillo has appealed to Abu Sayyaf spokesperson Abu Sabaya to "keep the lines of communications between the group and the government open for the safety of the hostages."
13 hostages including three American tourists are in the hand of Abu Sayyaf, which is noted for kidnapping for ransoms after kidnapping dozens, including Filipinos and foreigners last year.
Among the 13, 9 were kidnapped by the bandits from a resort in western Philippine province of Palawan on May 27 and transferred to Basilan in southern Philippines later. The other 4 were kidnapped on June 2 in a hospital in Basilan.
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