August 7, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Abu Sayyaf holds release of 3 Malaysians,

August 7, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Abu Sayyaf holds release of 3 Malaysians,

ZAMBOANGA CITY--The expected release of three Malaysians held by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu failed to materialize yesterday, as a Libyan envoy denied reports from Beirut that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi had offered $25 million for the release of all the hostages. 

Libyan special envoy Rajab Azzarouq, one of the government negotiators, said Libya had offered long-term development projects, not cash. No amount for the projects was specified.

Funds for the proposed livelihood projects are to be coursed through the Gadhafi International Charitable Organization, headed by Gadhafi's son, and through the Philippine government, according to Azzarouq. 

A frustrated Robert Aventajado, the chief government negotiator, yesterday blamed the delayed release of the Malaysians on the failure of two Malaysian officials to arrive in Zamboanga City. 

Aventajado was supposed to meet former Sabah Minister Yong Teck Lee and Malaysian Deputy Education Minister Datu Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin but was told they could not make it. 

''The problem is more with their officials. We're supposed to have our meeting today. I don't see any reason why they were not able to make it,'' Aventajado said yesterday. 

There was no official reason given for the cancellation, but aides said the Malaysians wanted to meet Aventajado separately. 

The meeting was moved back to Tuesday, which meant the three Malaysians would not be freed until then, Aventajado told reporters before leaving for Manila. 

''Nothing will happen until Tuesday,'' he said. 

He said he had relayed his ''disappointment through a private channel'' to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and urged him to ''talk to these officials to get their acts together.'' 

Aventajado was to have discussed with Lee and Shamsuddin the possibility of setting up ''mango, orange and coffee plantations'' in Talipao town in exchange for the Malaysian captives.

The plantations are to be included under a ''livelihood package'' for the rebels, although sources have said the rebels were asking P15 million for each of the Malaysians. 

Abu Sayyaf leader Galib Andang, alias Commander Robot, recently added a mango plantation to the list of demands for the release of the remaining hostages from an original group of 21 abducted from a Malaysian resort on April 23. 

Meeting with Europeans

Aventajado said he would meet European ambassadors in Manila today to inquire about programs reportedly being planned by their governments for the rebels. 


He said he told Commander Robot to discuss the fate of the European hostages alongside the Asians. 

''I told Robot, why don't we work with the Europeans in parallel with the Malaysians,'' Aventajado said. 

''I have convinced them (Abu Sayyaf), that the talks should be universal, involving all hostages,'' he added. 

The rebel chief was willing to ''release the Europeans ahead of the Malaysians'' if their governments agreed on livelihood projects similar to those offered by the Malaysians, Aventajado said without elaborating. 

''If ever an agreement is reached (among the European governments), it's possible the earliest will be Wednesday,'' he said. 

Aventajado also said he asked Robot ''not to kidnap anybody while negotiations are ongoing.'' 

On $25 million

Azzarouq, who is also in Zamboanga, said ''there is no truth'' to the reports of Gadhafi's offer of $25 million. 

''People are creating stories,'' Azzarouq told Reuters by telephone. 

Newspapers in Beirut said on Saturday that Gadhafi's first priority was the release of Marie Moarbis, a Lebanese-born woman who had been granted French citizenship during captivity in Sulu. 

''We offered some kind of livelihood projects . . . on a long-term period which may go beyond what they're asking, but no ransom whatsoever. It is without basis,'' Azzarouq said. 

In Manila, Speaker Manuel Villar and Rep. Joker Arroyo yesterday urged President Estrada not to accept the $25-million offer, if true. 

Malacañang reiterated its no-ransom policy, but said it could not stop Libya from offering money or paying ransom through unofficial channels. 

Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said, however, that if foreign governments tried to pay ransom through official channels, ''we will stop them.'' 

Appeal from mayor

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding two Filipinos, three Malaysians, two Germans, three French--including Moarbis--two Finns and two South Africans. 

Six journalists covering the saga were also kidnapped and three of them, a German and a Filipino couple, have been released. The rebels are still holding a three-member French television crew. 

Thirteen Christian evangelists who had gone to the Abu Sayyaf camp to pray for the hostages are also in captivity. 

An armed gang allied with the Abu Sayyaf also abducted three Filipino construction workers last week. The gang delayed their threatened Friday executions of the workers after an appeal from Hashir Hayudini, 
the mayor of Patikul town, said Sulu police Chief Supt. Candido Casimiro. Reports from Inquirer wires; Armand Nocum and Cynthia Balana