April 11, 2000, BusinessWorld, Killings to start in two days unless demands granted Moro terrorists threaten to start executing hostages, by Cathy Rose A. Garcia,

April 11, 2000, BusinessWorld, Killings to start in two days unless demands granted Moro terrorists threaten to start executing hostages, by Cathy Rose A. Garcia,

Moro terrorists in Basilan holding 31 hostages are threatening to start executing their captives in two days unless the government grants their demands. The terrorists, belonging to the Abu Sayyaf group, said through spokesman Abu Ahmad Salayuddin yesterday that male hostages will be killed first.

Their demands include film actor Robin Padilla's travel to the Abu Sayyaf's Camp Abdurajak in Basilan to negotiate for the hostages' release. The terrorists also want food, and the chance to meet with members of the Ulama council, the group of Muslim clerics.

"Kapag hindi pa pumunta si Robin Padilla within 72 hours (starting 6 a.m. yesterday), magsisimulang mag-execute tayo ng mga lalaki dito. Hindi kami nagbibiro. (If Robin Padilla does not go here within 72 hours, we will start executing the men. We are not joking)," Mr. Salayuddin said in a radio interview.

On March 20, Abu Sayyaf members abducted 54 persons -- including a Catholic priest, school teachers and their students -- from two barangays in Sumisip, Basilan. Since then, some hostages have been released in exchange for food and medicine.

Mr. Salayuddin said the government must comply with all of the Abu Sayyaf's demands by 6 a.m. on Thursday, or it will start beheading male hostages. He added the Abu Sayyaf will even invite media to witness the hostages' beheading, in Camp Abdurajak in Basilan.

The spokesman also accuses the government of insincerity in negotiating for the hostages' release, noting its lack of action on the Abu Sayyaf's demands.

For one, military rescue operations have been continuing, despite the Abu Sayyaf's call for a halt to all military operations in Basilan. "Kung hindi mapapunta si Robin Padilla, walang problema. Sundalo na lang ang papuntahin at handa na kami makipaglaban. (If the government cannot make Mr. Padilla come here, no problem. It can send soldiers instead, we are prepared to fight them," Mr. Salayuddin added.

He also claims to have spoken with Mr. Padilla over the telepone. He claims the film actor expressed willingness to go to Camp Abdurajak. Also yesterday, Basilan crisis management committee member Christopher Puno said it was unlikely for the committee to change its mind on Mr. Padilla's participation in the negotiations.

"The stand of the committee is to get Robin to negotiate through cellular phone," Mr. Puno said in a separate radio interview. Earlier, the crisis committee expressed concern that the Abu Sayyaf may also hostage Mr. Padilla if he goes to Camp Abdurajak.

The crisis committee is the government body tasked to directly deal with the Abu Sayyaf on the hostages' release. Meanwhile, Armed Forces spokesman Colonel Rafael Romero said the Abu Sayyaf's execution threat is only a "bluff." He also said the military is ready for any eventuality.

"This is just a bluff on their part. This is a condemnable attempt to make the government accede to their demands. What they are doing is not right, some of their hostages are only schoolchildren... But our forces are on stand by and ready to act," Mr. Romero said in an interview.