August 8, 2000, The Philippine Star, AFP chief admits Sayyaf got P245 M for hostages' release, by Marichu Villanueva,

August 8, 2000, The Philippine Star, AFP chief admits Sayyaf got P245 M for hostages' release, by Marichu Villanueva,

Whatever happened to the government's no-ransom policy? Abu Sayyaf bandits have raked in some P245 million over the past three months in "board and lodging" fees - euphemism for ransom - of dozens of Filipino  and foreign hostages, Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes revealed yesterday.

The financial settlements were allegedly made despite the Estrada administration's insistence that no money changed hands in the of releases of hostages in line with its avowed "no ransom" policy. In his report to President Estrada, Reyes said the money could be used by the Abu Sayyaf to buy more firearms.

Reyes' report prompted Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. to request Presidential Adviser Roberto Aventajado, the government's chief negotiator with the Abu Sayyaf, to shed light on the alleged ransom payments. Aventajado insisted, however, that it was only the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel, employer of Andreas Lorenz who was captured by the Abu Sayyaf while covering the hostage drama, which has admitted having paid ransom for its reporter's release. Aventajado also claimed the government had nothing to do with the negotiations for the release of Lorenz. Before Reyes could divulge more information about the hostage drama, the President cut him short saying the issue was not included in the agenda of yesterday's Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado gave assurances of the safety of the people of Jolo and Zamboanga City amid threats by the Abu Sayyaf that they would raze the two areas if the military launches rescue operations for the hostages.

"We can assure our people that they don't have anything to worry about. We can truthfully say that there are no military operations there (Sulu)," Mercado said. Chief hostage-taker Ghalib Andang, also known as Commander Robot, had threatened to attack Jolo and Zamboanga City following the reported buzzing of the kidnappers' lair in Sulu by two military OV-10 planes.

The fly-over was suspected to be in line with mapping operations preparatory to an impending assault by government forces. Armed Forces officials clarified, however, that the aircraft were merely on their way to Malaysian-Philippine joint military exercises in Sabah. Mercado declined to say what the government intends to do after all the hostages have been freed.

Mahathir sends emissaries to Zamboanga City

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad ordered emissaries to go to the Philippines and help end a 107-day-old hostage crisis, Aventajado said. "He gave instructions to the emissaries to fly to Zamboanga at 2 p.m. today," Aventajado said in a radio interview.

Former Sabah Chief Minister Yong Teck Lee and Malaysian Deputy Education Minister Datu Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin were supposed to meet Aventajado in Zamboanga City last Sunday, to discuss a package of livelihood projects in exchange for the release of Abu Sayyaf hostages, among them three Malaysians.

However, the appointment was scrapped for still unknown reasons. This prompted Aventajado, the government's chief negotiator with the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers, to call up Mahathir and inform him about the unilateral cancellation of their meeting. The projects include the setting up of mango, orange and coffee plantations in Abu Sayyaf-controlled areas in Talipao town in Sulu.

"There are certain deals on the table. If there is an agreement, Commander Robot has committed to start releasing hostages the following day," Aventajado said. He was referring to the Abu Sayyaf leader whose group was holding 14 mostly foreign hostages who were snatched from the Malaysian dive resort of Sipadan in Sabah last April 23.

The victims were taken by boat across the border to nearby Sulu province. The Abu Sayyaf raiders originally seized 21 people, consisting of nine Malaysians, three Germans, two South Africans, two Finns, two French nationals, two Filipinos and one Lebanese. So far, six of the Malaysians and one German woman have been freed following ransom payments, but government authorities vehemently denied that money changed hands in the series of hostage releases.

In Beirut, Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss said his government has accepted a Libyan proposal to pay a ransom for the freedom of Franco- Lebanese woman Marie Michelle Moarbes. The offer to pay the $1 million ransom demand was made by Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Intelligence sources said the Abu Sayyaf bandits, self-styled freedom fighters for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao, have been using the ransom to build up their arsenal, with certain local politicians acting as go- between for arms dealers based in Manila and elsewhere to arrange the sale of M-203 rifles with grenade launchers.

Sources said the guns were being sold for P250,000 each, three times its black market value, and the Abu Sayyaf has placed orders for 50 guns from several arms dealers. Meanwhile, provincial police chief Candido Casimiro said they will launch a crackdown on the sale of military uniforms and equipment at the Jolo public market, saying the items could end up in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.

The articles include combat boots, pistol belts and backpacks. Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. warned that the reported offer of the Libyan government to pay $25 million for the release of all Abu Sayyaf hostages could be detrimental to national security.

Pimentel said the Abu Sayyaf terrorists could buy sophisticated and powerful weapons with all that money, putting government forces at a great disadvantage against rebel groups. "The government should, therefore, use its diplomatic channels to persuade the Libyan government or other private organizations to rethink their offers to pay a princely ransom for the release of the hostages, if indeed such offers are in the works," he said.

Libyan authorities have denied, however, that their government has made such an offer. On the other hand, Finland said it would finance development projects in the Philippines in exchange for the release of its two nationals among the Abu Sayyaf hostages.-- With reports from Paolo Romero, Roel Pareño, AFP