Front Page
 RP News  
 Community News
 Immigration
 Commentaries
 Business
 Sports 
 Entertainment
 Features
 Announcements
 News Archives
 People

IN THE NEWS
AUG 01, 2000

3 KILLED, R.P. AMBASSADOR HURT IN INDON BLAST

3 DEAD, 36 WOUNDED IN CARNIVAL BOMBING

ABU SAYYAF TO RELEASE REMAINING HOSTAGES IN ONE BATCH

850 PASSENGERS RESCUED FROM BURNING SUPER FERRY

AMERICAN SERIAL RAPIST PLACED ON WATCHLIST

PAYATAS RESIDENTS FILE P1-B CLASS SUIT

R.P. SEEKS HK HELP ON MARCOS DEAL

FIRST LADY OPENS FILIPINO FILM FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK

Copyright ©1999, 2000 by Radio-TV Pilipino Network, Inc. All rights reserved. Radio-TV Pilipino™, Basta Pinoy!™ News and Asiana Post™ are trademarks of Radio-TV Pilipino, Inc. Terms of use. Privacy policy.

IN THE NEWS

ABU SAYYAF TO RELEASE REMAINING HOSTAGES IN ONE BATCH

MANILA, Aug. 1  -- Government negotiators have
claimed a breakthrough in talks for the release of the remaining hostages held in Jolo, after the Abu Sayyaf expressed willingness to release all the captives in one batch.

Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said the negotiations, if handled properly, could result in the hostages' release in two weeks' time.

"Based on the report of my emissary code-named Dragon, Commander Robot is willing to negotiate the hostages' wholesale release, which was unlike before, when he only wanted the release of the hostages in batches, with the female captives separate from
the male ones and from the French journalists," Aventajado said.

With negotiations at this stage, Aventajado advised Gov. Nur Misuari of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to stop making irresponsible statements about the situation.

Misuari was quoted as saying that the Abu Sayyaf has collected enough ransom from its freed captives to buy military equipment, such as missiles.

Aventajado reminded Misuari that he had replaced him as chief government negotiator last May. "He was given the chance earlier," he said.

"It would be better if he kept out of this. His interference would only muddle up things," he added.
Aventajado also reiterated that the government continues to remain firm on its no-ransom policy as he stressed that reports of ransom payments to the Abu Sayyaf did not have, and will never have, his stamp of approval.

"There are groups who talk to the Abu Sayyaf on their own. But as far as the government is concerned, we do not pay ransom to anyone," he said. (SNS)

REQUEST FOR A COMPLIMENTARY COPY

   Refresh your browser to make sure latest update is shown.
 News Items on this website are for private use and must not be reproduced, printed or reposted without our written permission.
copyright (c) 2000 by Radio-TV Pilipino Network, Inc.