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15 More Kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf: Philippine Military
Philippine military spokesman said Monday afternoon that 15 civilians were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf bandits in southern Philippines in the morning.
Five houses and a chapel were set on fire by the bandits in Lantawan town in Basilan. There are several teenagers among the 15 but no child, Edilberto Adan, spokesman of Armed Forces, said.
Lantawan is a coconut plantation town and the bandits who raided the town came from Jolo island, another lair of the Abu Sayyaf group southwest of Basilan, Adan said.
Adan also said Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya announced to postpone the beheading of one of the three American hostages in their hands at around 2:30 p.m. local time (GMT 0630).
The Philippine government at noon agreed involvement of Malaysian negotiators to solve the hostage crisis if Malaysian government permits.
The Presidential Palace said the government will discuss the matter with Malaysia authority.
In a message broadcast by Radi RMN Monday morning, Sabaya said they don't trust government appointed intermediary William Castillo, adding that the beheading will be put on hold only if the government allows the entry of Malaysian negotiator former Senator Sairin Karno and businessman Yusop Hamdan.
Last Thursday, Abu Sabaya had given a 72-hour deadline to the government before he starts killing the hostages, particularly the Americans. The government denied the request before the deadline lapsed at noon Sunday.
Except the new hostages kidnapped Monday and the three Americans, the Abu Sayyaf are still holding somewhere in Basilan 10 Filipinos abducted from a resort in western province of Palawan and a local hospital in two weeks.
Military troops are scouring Basilan for Abu Sayyaf bandits.
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