RP rebels seize three new hostages<\/p>\n
JOLO, Philippines (AFP): Philippine kidnappers appear ready to
\nrelease some of their 17 hostages, even as they abducted three
\nmore Filipinos they plan to use as human shields, sources close
\nto the negotiations said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Police said members of the extremist group Abu Sayyaf snatched
\nat gunpoint Samuel Ranillano, 40, Renante dela Cruz, 20 and a man
\nidentified only as Iking, 51, while the three were hauling sand
\nfrom the coastal village of Kaunayan in Patikul town on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The three, who are all Christians, are employed by a
\nconstruction supply shop in Jolo which has concessions to quarry
\nin Kaunayan, the same area where a splinter Abu Sayyaf group
\nearlier snatched two Filipino broadcast journalists.<\/p>\n
Police said the gunmen who carried out the fresh abductions
\nare new recruits.<\/p>\n
Shop supervisor Abubakar Mandangan said they received a letter
\nwritten by Ranillano saying they would have to pay an unspecified
\namount or the three would be killed.<\/p>\n
The Abu Sayyaf is also holding at gunpoint two Finns, five
\nFrench nationals, two Germans, three Malaysians, two Filipinos,
\ntwo South Africans and a Franco-Lebanese woman and have been
\nengaged in negotiations with the government for release of these
\nhostages.<\/p>\n
The rebels had earlier freed six Malaysians, two Germans and
\nfive Filipinos, including two Filipino broadcast journalists
\nfreed on Saturday.<\/p>\n
There had been widespread reports that ransom was paid for
\nthese captives.<\/p>\n
Sources involved in the negotiations said the new captives
\ncould be used by the Abu Sayyaf as \"human shields\" for an
\nexpected military assault once the 17 hostages are freed.<\/p>\n
Security was tightened here amid intelligence reports that the
\nAbu Sayyaf were planning to kidnap more local traders and their
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
\"They are hoping that after the release of the foreign
\nhostages, they will still have some protection from military
\noperations,\" a source said.<\/p>\n
The three remaining Malaysians are the next captives lined up
\nfor freedom, sources said, adding that chief negotiator Roberto
\nAventajado was expected to fly to the southern city of Zamboanga
\nsoon to oversee their handover.<\/p>\n
A chartered Malaysian plane was scheduled to arrive in
\nZamboanga City, near Jolo, on Thursday and arrangements have been
\nmade for it to fly any freed Malaysians direct to Sabah,
\nMalaysia, the sources said.<\/p>\n
\"None of the Caucasians are coming down, but the Malaysians
\nmay walk free as early as tomorrow,\" said one source who is in
\ncontact with the emissaries sent to the jungle hideout of Abu
\nSayyaf gunmen on the southern island of Jolo.<\/p>\n
The sources said Aventajado's emissary was in the gunmen's
\ncamp on Wednesday, and that the only thing holding up the
\nMalaysians' release was Manila's insistence that two Filipinos in
\nthe group be freed with them.<\/p>\n
The five hostages were among the original 21 western tourists
\nand Asian resort workers seized by the rebels from a Malaysian
\nresort, and brought by boat to Jolo on April 23.<\/p>\n
After the Malaysians are freed, the negotiators hope to obtain
\nthe release of the remaining three foreign female hostages seized
\nfrom the Malaysian resort -- a Frenchwoman, a South African and a
\nFranco-Lebanese national, sources said.<\/p>\n
Aventajado earlier said he was hopeful all 17 hostages are
\nfreed in two weeks, with Abu Sayyaf leader Galib Andang
\nindicating he was ready to begin discussions on what will happen
\nafter hostage drama.<\/p>\n
The bulk of journalists covering the hostage crisis pulled out
\nof Jolo island during the weekend following intelligence reports
\nthe Abu Sayyaf were planning to abduct other local media members.<\/p>",
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