September 2, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sayyaf wants $10-M ransom for Schilling, by Donna Cueto and Julie S. Alipala-Inot

September 2, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sayyaf wants $10-M ransom for Schilling, by  Donna Cueto and Julie S. Alipala-Inot

ABU SAYYAF gunmen have allegedly demanded $10 million for the release of American hostage Jeffrey Schilling, negotiators and local officials in Zamboanga City said yesterday. The kidnappers also promised not to harm him while negotiations continue; asked for businessman Lepeng Wee to be included in the talks; and requested food and medicine for the hostage, who they said does not eat local root crops.

An unnamed official quoted by Reuters said the hostage takers had also demanded P5 million as an immediate "goodwill" payment. Malacañang yesterday ruled out a military rescue operation in the new crisis, while a "government negotiator" named Rolando Sarmiento, whom nobody seemed to know, came out of the blue and initiated talks with an Abu Sayyaf spokesman.

"At this time, we are ruling out a military assault or whatever kind of harsh action. We will try to negotiate first. And then only when it becomes clear that this is not going to work will other options be considered," Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said in a briefing yesterday. He also said the government was treating the Schilling kidnapping as a "police matter" that required deeper investigation, since both the Philippine and US governments were having "second thoughts" regarding the American's background.

"Mr. Schilling is obviously not an ordinary tourist. I think that's pretty much established," Puno said, referring to the American's six-month stay in Zamboanga, where he married a Muslim Filipina with links to the Abu Sayyaf. "Even the US Embassy is beginning to have second thoughts on whether he was really what they initially called an ordinary tourist," Puno said.

The President's spokesperson did not know anything about Sarmiento, the supposed new negotiator. "As far as the Palace is concerned, we are not really aware (of his background). I don't know who he is and the name does not ring a bell. So we're still trying to determine who exactly Mr. Sarmiento is," Puno said yesterday. He added that the Philippine National Police also had no information on Sarmiento's identity.

'Not healthy'

But Sarmiento, in a broadcast over Radio Mindanao Network, said the government had requested and tasked him to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf for Schilling's speedy release. In a telephone patch-up aired on radio, Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Ahmad Salayuddin, aka Abu Sabaya, told the supposed negotiator that "you must send today medicine and food because, you know, this American doesn't eat cassava."

The 24-year-old American, according to Sabaya, is not healthy enough to endure jungle life "because he has several ailments such as eye and heart problems, and sinusitis." The US Embassy had earlier appealed for the captive's release on humanitarian grounds, saying he has health problems that required regular medication.

On Thursday night, Sabaya contacted a negotiator who worked for the release of Western and Asian hostages kidnapped from Sipadan in Malaysia in April, and made the $10-million demand, a member of the negotiating team said. The kidnapper had earlier said that "one American is worth 10 Europeans."

Willing Wee

But Sabaya did not mention the $10-million request or make any other new formal demands in the radio conversation, although he had earlier said the group would present its demands on Friday. Sabaya also asked yesterday for the inclusion in the negotiations of former presidential adviser Wee, the Zamboanga-based businessman who helped arrange about $4.5 million in ransom reportedly paid for the earlier release of nine Malaysians, negotiators said.

The request for Wee's involvement suggests that the rebels plan to follow a similar approach with Schilling's kidnapping in which a ransom would be paid by third parties, allowing the US and Philippine governments to maintain their official no-ransom policies.

Wee told the INQUIRER he was "willing to help if they need me." But he added: "What's holding me back is the statement of (Armed Forces vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Jose) Calimlim, who accused me of being involved in a kidnapping syndicate and of taking commissions from these kidnappings." "It's a harsh and unfounded statement," he said. Wee also said he had to consult first with President Estrada and chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado before making any moves.

Cool-headed

In the phone patch-up, Sarmiento told Sabaya that "the government is open to talks with the Abu Sayyaf and we are not thinking of any violent undertaking to rescue Schilling." Sabaya insisted that North Korea, China, Iraq, Libya--and Saudi Arabia, too--take part in the negotiations. Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado has dismissed the demand as "really out of this world."

But Sarmiento said it was "good" that Sabaya had made known the demand to include several nations in the negotiations. He said he would consult his superiors and "we will talk about it before we decide." The negotiator said:

"The US will help the Philippine government facilitate Schilling's release through peaceful means. They (US officials) also want to know the demands of the Abu Sayyaf."

For his part, Sabaya pledged that "while we are conducting talks. . . we will not consider any violence against Mr. Schilling," but threatened that "if we lose our patience, then the US will really regret it." Earlier this week, he threatened to behead Schilling if three Arab terrorists are not released from US jails.

"Sarmiento's OK with us. He's cool-headed (malamig siyang kausap)," Sabaya said. While approving Sarmiento's appointment, the kidnapper said that Sarmiento should closely coordinate with Wee.

Life plus 240 years

Sabaya did not mention the earlier demand to free Islamic fundamentalists Ramzi Yousef, Egyptian cleric Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, and Abou Haider from US jails. Yousef was sentenced to life plus 240 years for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing in New York. Rahman was imprisoned for plotting to bomb several New York City locations. The US government has ruled out paying ransom or making any deals with the rebels and has said the negotiations are the Philippine government's responsibility. It has also said that it is not interested in mediation by third countries.

The Abu Sayyaf group is still holding six other foreigners and a larger group of Filipinos after freeing six Westerners earlier this week for a reported $1 million each, bankrolled by Libya. The government said on Thursday that it was looking at all options to secure Schilling's release and the Army said it was prepared to move in if peaceful means failed.

Theories

Yesterday, Puno said that both the US and Philippine governments were investigating Schilling's background to find clues of his real purpose in staying so long in Zamboanga City. "It ranges from curiosity, tourism, to pure unadulterated love," Puno said. Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora reiterated a theory that Schilling, a Muslim convert, might not have been held against his will.

Libyan ambassador to Manila Salem Adam, apparently bristling at US criticism of Tripoli's role in the Sipadan hostage crisis, said Libya was not convinced either that Schilling was an innocent hostage. The Abu Sayyaf tried to hide Schilling by passing him off as an Arab, military intelligence sources told Agence France Presse.

The gunmen made him wear a turban that partly covered his face and told villagers in Patikul town that the Oakland native was an Arab, sources said. However, Schilling's cover was blown after villagers heard him speak only in English, the sources said. With reports from Carlito Pablo; Dona Pazzibugan; Jonathan F. Ma and Jowel F. Canuday, PDI Mindanao Bureau; Inquirer wires