June 6, 2000, The Philippine Star, Gov't not ruling out rescue of hostages, by Roel Pareño and Marichu Villanueva,

June 6, 2000, The Philippine Star, Gov't not ruling out rescue of hostages, by Roel Pareño and Marichu Villanueva, 

Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado warned yesterday the government is not ruling out a rescue attempt if Abu Sayyaf terrorists are "unreasonable" and refuse to release 21 mostly foreign hostages held for six weeks now in a jungle lair in Talipao, Sulu. 

In related developments yesterday: 

* The extremist group has included in its list of demands the release of nine family members of Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffi Janjalani in exchange for freeing an ailing German hostage. 

* The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it was ready to arrest Janjalani and 78 of his followers for the kidnapping of more than 50 teachers and school children in Basilan last March. 

* Journalists covering the Mindanao crisis would be restricted from entering the Abu Sayyaf's lair to prevent them from disrupting negotiations and endangering the captives' lives. 

Aventajado said they have been weighing their options for the past week after negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf stalled over a reported $20-million ransom demand and mounting pressure from foreign governments to resolve the crisis. 

He said the negotiating team was pursuing talks with the rebels because of the belief that they could succeed. 

"But if at the end of the day they remain very unreasonable... then that's another story," he said over radio station dzMM. 

Asked if the military would mount a rescue attempt, he said: "That option is always open to the government." 

He did not say when President Estrada would make that decision. 

Abu Sayyaf leaders had previously made political demands, including an Islamic state, a human rights commission to investigate alleged abuses against Filipino immigrants in the nearby Malaysian state of Sabah, and a ban on commercial fishing fleets in Sulu waters. 

Aventajado said yesterday that his team has held talks with owners of fishing fleets based in Manila and secured their commitment that "they will not go within 15 kilometers of the Jolo shoreline." 

He is scheduled to meet owners of fishing fleets based in the port of Zamboanga today. 

The return of the government's negotiating team to Jolo is expected to pave the way for the resumption of negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf. 

Through an emissary, Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot said they want the release of Janjalani's relatives to be worked out by Aventajado as part of the negotiations. 

Andang said the sick German hostage Renate Wallert would only be freed if the government can secure the safe release of Janjalani's household members. 

Eleven family members of the Abu Sayyaf leader, including his pregnant wife, one-year-old son and mother, were seized by a vigilante group in retaliation for the Abu Sayyaf's kidnapping of some 50 teachers and school children in Sumisip, Basilan on March 20. 

Janjalani's wife and son have already been released. 

The PNP said yesterday it was ready to arrest Janjalani and 78 of his followers for the kidnapping of more than 50 teachers and school children in Basilan last March. 

This developed as the Basilan regional trial court issued the needed arrest warrants against the Abu Sayyaf leader and his men. 

Charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention against the rebels were filed last April by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at the office of Basilan Prosecutor Domingo Kinzano. 

The charges were later amended to include multiple homicide and multiple frustrated homicide following the death of Catholic priest Rhoel Gallardo and two teachers. 

PNP spokesman Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said Janjalani's co-accused included spokesman Abu Sabaya and other ranking officers of the extremist group. 

Meanwhile, journalists covering the crisis in Mindanao were told by Malacañang yesterday to stop visiting the Abu Sayyaf's jungle lair. 

Government officials were particularly angered by a group of 10 journalists working for German news organizations who forked over $25,000 after they were held hostage and threatened with death by the Abu Sayyaf, whose members also robbed the reporters. 

Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Puno denounced the payoff, which he said was the equivalent of giving the gunmen "100,000 M-16 bullets." 

"That is not right. We will try to put a stop to this today," he said. Germany has also asked journalists covering the hostage crisis to stay away from the kidnappers' camp, warning they could become victims. 

Puno did not elaborate on what action he would take against the media, but in Jolo Monday an inn run by Catholic nuns asked 15 journalists working for German news organizations to leave. 

Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan, one of the government negotiators, said the journalists left the island by ferry after they were warned of "possible threats against them." 

The government appeared to be toughening its stance in the hostage crisis after a week spent weighing its options since negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf stalled over a reported ransom demand. 

It also faces mounting pressure from the governments of the foreign hostages who are now in their 43rd day of captivity. 

Nine Malaysians, three Germans, two Filipinos, two Finns, two French nationals, two South Africans and a Lebanese were abducted from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan on April 23. 

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday that his government was considering all options. 

"Confronted with a situation where the terrorists could possibly do something to their victims, we will have to consider whatever move to save them," he said when asked whether Malaysia would consider paying a ransom. 

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Malaysia would meet Philippine authorities to identify "other means" to resolve the crisis. 

Malaysia's priority was to secure the freedom of the hostages as soon as possible, he said. 

Catholics urged to 'lie low'

A Roman Catholic Church leader has urged the Christian minority in Mindanao to "lie low" after a cathedral was bombed by suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels Saturday night. 

"Non-Muslims should lie low for a while, avoid going to places that are crowded," Bishop Angelito Lampon told reporters after Sunday Mass here. 

The Mt. Carmel Catholic cathedral in Jolo was bombed late Saturday, causing damage but no casualties. Police said Abu Sayyaf guerrillas are the main suspects. 

Lampon's predecessor, Bishop Benjamin de Jesus, was gunned down by a suspected Abu Sayyaf guerrilla outside the Jolo cathedral three years ago. 

Lampon advised his flock to "be prudent, take extra careful precautions but be slow in blaming and pinpointing people." 

At his homily Sunday, he stressed "the reason we stay in the church in Jolo is not to convert. We are here to serve." 

He told reporters that church workers on the island received threatening anonymous pamphlets several months ago, but declined to elaborate. 

The Notre Dame school, run by the Catholic church, has since seen its enrollment figures dwindle to about 200 students from about 1,500. Lampon said a Chinese school in Jolo has also closed down. 

Many of the Christian minority are ethnic Chinese traders. -- By Roel Pareño and Marichu Villanueva with reports from Mike Frialde, Paolo Romero, AFP