Puno: No Malaysian interference in Abu

Malaysia has not interfered with Manila's effort to secure the release of 21 hostages in Jolo, Sulu, Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said yesterday.

He issued the statement amid reports that a Malaysian ambassador met with leaders of the Abu Sayyaf without government clearance.

The supposed secret meeting could throw talks off track, according to an annoyed Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, who is a member of the government negotiating panel.

"This could have a very bad impact," Tan said. "This could derail the negotiations."

But Puno said Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. had confirmed to him that Malaysian Ambassador Mohamad Arshad Manzoor Hussain had sought permission from Manila to go to the bandits' lair in Talipao town.

The envoy's mission, Puno said, was to convince the kidnappers to allow members of the Red Crescent from Malaysia to check on the health of the hostages.

"(Siazon) was aware of the trip to Sulu. The ambassador was only there for a limited purpose, which is to get the Red Crescent inside the area where the hostages are held, to bring in doctors and medicines," Puno said.

The ambassador succeeded in getting the Abu Sayyaf to permit a Red Crescent medical team attend to the hostages, but the rebels wanted time to consider his request to open a regular channel for food and medicine, he said.

Tan and chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado, President Estrada's adviser on flagship projects, said the other foreign ambassadors involved were displeased with the Malaysian ambassador as well.

"Some are complaining that this may endanger the lives of their nationals," Tan said. "They are worried."

Foreign analysts in Manila said Kuala Lumpur's decision to deal directly with the rebel group might complicate negotiations.

"I'm not sure whether other governments of hostages want to also seek separate talks with the Abu Sayyaf," an analyst said.

Sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Malaysian ambassador sent a letter to Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado informing him that he would be going to Jolo to meet with the Abu Sayyaf.

The letter claimed Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, Siazon and Aventajado knew about this and that Siazon and Zamora told the envoy "you don't have much choice on that matter especially that it's Kuala Lumpur's instructions."

The sources did not say if Siazon and Aventajado had endorsed the meeting, but they said a copy of the Malaysian ambassador's letter was sent to the foreign affairs department.

Sulu's Tan said the Malaysian action had caused security problems.

Asked by reporters whether a protest would be filed with Kuala Lumpur, Tan said: "Maybe the provincial government (will protest), we are studying that."

He said Arshad went to a rendezvous point with police escorts armed with firearms, catching some Abu Sayyaf leaders by surprise.

The situation was tense and a shooting incident could have occurred, he said.

Tan said he had met Arshad and "I told him he is in the Philippines, he must not forget that."

Meanwhile, Malaysia's Bernama news agency reported that the Philippine government and the Abu Sayyaf have agreed to meet for talks on freeing the hostages.

The news agency quoted Aventajado as saying that the talks were expected to start at any time.

"We have received confirmation on Friday to push through (with the negotiations)," he told Malaysian journalists in Zamboanga City.

"Our people and their people are not attending to the final points of preparation (for the negotiations)," he added.

He said he had insisted on a framework for the negotiations and for the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas to put their demands in writing.

In a related development, President Estrada waved the olive branch to Muslim rebels on Friday night as he urged them to join the government in rebuilding the country.

The President, who cut short his state visit to China to attend to pressing domestic matters, told the Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that they will not succeed in their plans to put up a separate Islamic state in Mindanao.

"You are destined to fail, and your only chance and alternative is to join us to rebuild our country through positive and committed activism," he said in his speech on Friday night upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

If the rebels remain pigheaded, Mr. Estrada warned he will unleash the full might of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to crush them.

He said the government will be firm in its resolve to protect the country's territorial integrity as it will never allow moves to divide the archipelago.

"Mark my word. The government will show and feel to terrorists that there is only one government and one armed forces," he said.

Mr. Estrada said the country cannot achieve economic stability unless terrorism is completely eradicated. -- With Roel Pareño, Rey Arquiza, Wire Reports