RP kidnappers raise ransom demand: Sources<\/p>\n
JOLO, Philippines (Agencies): Moro extremist kidnappers on
\nTuesday raised their ransom demand for a group of Malaysians
\namong 38 hostages they are holding in the southern Philippines, a
\nday after releasing an ailing German woman captive, sources said.<\/p>\n
The expected release of the seven remaining Malaysian hostages
\nwas reportedly put off on Tuesday due to the new demand by the
\nAbu Sayyaf gunmen, the sources close to the negotiations said.<\/p>\n
The gunmen freed ailing 56-year-old German hostage Renate
\nWallert on Monday, raising hopes that the other captives would
\nalso be released.<\/p>\n
Relatives of the Malaysian captives flew in here from nearby
\nSabah state on Tuesday amid expectations that their kin would be
\nthe next to be freed. But they left empty handed aboard their
\nchartered turboprop for nearby southern Philippine city of
\nZamboanga.<\/p>\n
"There will be no developments tonight," said one source close
\nto the negotiations, who asked not to be named.<\/p>\n
The sources said the Malaysians, seized by the Abu Sayyaf with
\ntwo Filipinos and 10 foreign tourists from an island resort near
\nMalaysia on April 23, were to have been freed with Wallert on
\nMonday night.<\/p>\n
But it was called off at the last minute with the gunmen
\nseeking an additional 70 million pesos (US$1.6 million).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Philippines' chief negotiator who won Wallert's
\nrelease from the rebel captivity said on Tuesday talks were under
\nway for the speedy release of other women still held by the
\nguerrillas.<\/p>\n
Presidential adviser Roberto Aventajado insisted no ransom was
\npaid for Wallert's release but said he had agreed to consider a
\nrequest to help the rebels start an orange plantation in their
\ncamp on southern Jolo island.<\/p>\n
Aventajado told reporters rebel chief Galib Andang had told an
\nemissary that the guerrillas, having freed Wallert, now wanted to
\ntalk about the other women captives out of a group of 21 mostly
\nforeign hostages seized from the island resort.<\/p>\n
They include Frenchwoman Sonia Wendling, South African Monique
\nStrydom, the Lebanese Marie Moarbes and a Filipino woman,
\nLucrecia Dablo, Aventajado said.<\/p>\n
"Pretty soon," he said when asked when the next release of
\nhostages would take place.<\/p>\n
In recent weeks, the Abu Sayyaf has abducted 17 other people,
\nincluding a German reporter, a three-member French television
\ncrew and 13 Filipino evangelists.<\/p>\n
Three Filipinos have been held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf since
\nMarch, bringing to 38 the total number of still in captivity.<\/p>\n
The Abu Sayyaf is one of two groups fighting for an Islamic
\nstate in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines.
\nManila has rejected the Abu Sayyaf's call for an independent
\nMuslim homeland but Aventajado said a request by Andang for help
\nin starting an orange plantation was "do-able."<\/p>\n
"Commander Robot has land he wants to develop and I told
\nhim ...we can look at it. He said it's about 100 hectares (250
\nacres)," Aventajado said.<\/p>\n
Despite official denials, a senior police intelligence
\nofficial said about 40 million pesos ($890,000) was paid for
\nWallert's freedom.<\/p>\n
The source, asking not to be identified, said the money was
\ndeposited in a Philippine bank account under the name of an in-
\nlaw of Andang.<\/p>",
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