December 08, 2001, The Philippine Star, Lacson hits Palace spokesman over Abu ransom,

December 08, 2001, The Philippine Star, Lacson hits Palace spokesman over Abu ransom,

A seething Sen. Panfilo Lacson lashed out yesterday at a ranking Malacañang official for taking the lid off backdoor negotiations for the release of an American missionary couple and a Filipino nurse still held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in the jungles of Basilan.

Lacson, a member of the opposition bloc in the Senate, said Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao had crab mentality after he revealed the secret talks, in the process jeopardizing chances for the safe release of the victims.

Lacson admitted that he made a discreet one-day visit to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia upon the invitation of a friend whom he declined to identify.

At the same time, Lacson denied meeting with Zamboanga-based Filipino-Chinese trader Lee Peng Wee who was tagged by military intelligence as one of the mediators and courier of ransom payments for the release of the mostly foreign hostages seized by the Abu Sayyaf from the Malaysian dive resort of Sipadan in April last year.

While in Malaysia, Lacson said his friend had been privately working for the release of Abu Sayyaf captives Martin and Gracia Burnham, both members of the New Tribes Mission from Wichita, Kansas, and Deborah Yap, a Filipino nurse.

Tiglao identified Lacson’s Malaysian friend as Sairin Karno who helped in the backdoor negotiations for the release of the Sipadan hostages.

Lacson told reporters Senate President Franklin Drilon knew about his trip to Kota Kinabalu, saying he wanted it to be as discreet as possible to avoid derailing the negotiations.

The senator said there was no talk of ransom, adding that his friend was optimistic that the three hostages, remnants of those snatched by Abu Sayyaf during a series of raids in the Palawan upscale resort of Dos Palmas and in urban centers in Basilan province, would be freed in a few days.

Lacson charged that Tiglao’s intervention might seriously set back the negotiations and prolong the ordeal of the hostages.

The opposition senator also belied allegations ransoms were being offered for the safe release of the captives.

"Why would I pay for the ransom myself? Why would the Malaysians pay for the Philippine government and the American couple?" Lacson asked.

He clarified that his acts were merely voluntary in his desire to help resolve the eight-month-old hostage drama in Basilan.

"I was just being helpful. There is nothing more to bungle in the situation because the administration has bungled everything already. Walang gloria ang bukas natin kapag ganyan (There will be no glory in our future that way)," he said in an apparent dig at the President who maintains a weekly radio-television program entitled "May Gloria ang Bukas Mo" (There is Glory in Your Future).

Lacson said his friend had gained the trust and confidence of Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya, having played a critical role in the Sipadan hostage drama.

Lacson said his friend had allowed him to listen to some taped conversation with Sabaya to prove that there were bright prospects for the release of the remaining hostages.

Sabaya requested earlier for the designation of Karno as official representative of the Philippine government in the negotiations for the release of the 20 Dos Palmas hostages.

Except for the Burnhams, the captives have been freed in batches amid rumors of ransom payments.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III even revealed that a Malacañang official borrowed his plane for the delivery of P17 million ransom for the release of real estate contractor Reghis Romero II and his female companion who were among those abducted from Dos Palmas.

A third American, Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded along with some of the Filipino hostages. – Aurea Calica