RP: Release of Malaysian hostages imminent

RP: Release of Malaysian hostages imminent

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (Reuters): The Philippines' chief hostage negotiator said on Wednesday he had reached a deal with separatist MAbu Sayyaf rebels for the release of seven Malaysians still held captive but denied reports they had been freed.

Presidential adviser Roberto Aventajado, head of Manila's negotiating panel, said radio reports that the Malaysians had been freed from captivity on Jolo Island in the south of the country were premature.

"The deal is still on...it's still in the works," he said, adding he would stay overnight in Zamboanga, near Jolo, in expectation of hearing from the rebels through intermediaries.

Two major Manila radio stations said earlier on Wednesday that the Malaysians had been freed from nearly three months' captivity and were on their way to Zamboanga where Aventajado was to receive them.

The seven Malaysians were among 21 mostly foreign hostages kidnapped by the fundamentalist Abu Sayyaf guerrillas from a resort island under Malaysia control on April 23 and spirited by boat to Jolo, 960 kilometers south of Manila.

The group of 21 comprised nine Malaysians, three Germans, two South Africans, two Finns, two French nationals, two Filipinos and a Lebanese.

Since then, the rebels have released two of the Malaysians and a German woman, Renate Wallert. Her husband and son remain behind in captivity on Jolo.

But in recent weeks, the rebels have also abducted a German reporter and three French television journalists -- who had gone to Jolo to cover the hostage crisis -- as well as 13 Filipino evangelists who entered the heavily fortified rebel lair to pray for the hostages.

"SEEING IS BELIEVING"

The guerrillas, who are fighting for an independent Muslim homeland in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines, are also holding three other Filipinos kidnapped from Basilan island, near Jolo, in March and May.

Altogether, the rebels are still holding 38 captives. "Seeing is believing," Malaysian ambassador H.M. Arshad told Reuters soon after Manila radio stations DZRH and DZMM reported that the Malaysians had been released.

Aventajado told Reuters earlier on Wednesday that he expected the Malaysians to be freed later in the day and that he was flying to Zamboanga, 150 kilometers northeast of Jolo, to see them.

"Until I have them I can't say it's for sure but you can say it's expected," Aventajado said.

Senior police sources said the rebels had agreed to release the Malaysians in exchange for a ransom of at least $3 million. "I don't know anything about that," Aventajado said.

Manila and governments of countries whose nationals are held by the rebels have said they are opposed to paying ransom. Aventajado had also said he expected the rebels to release on Thursday two Filipina school teachers and a teenaged boy who were abducted on Basilan.

The hostage crisis and an upsurge of fighting with the bigger Moslem rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), on the main southern island of Mindanao have become President Joseph Estrada's biggest security challenge in his more than two years in office.

The drawn-out hostage drama has also embarrassed Estrada's embattled administration.