GMA warns vs ransom deals

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Abu Sayyaf bandits offered yesterday to negotiate with the government, saying they would free two more of up to 26 hostages they are holding in the jungles of Basilan.

"We promise to release some hostages once (Justice Secretary Hernando) Perez enters the talks, and of course after the military operations shall have ceased," Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya said in a telephone call to Radio Mindanao Network.

Sabaya said at least two more hostages would be freed if his conditions were met, but did not specify who would be released.

This developed as President Arroyo warned the fa-milies of those held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf against paying ransom, saying they might get caught in the midst of military pursuit operations. But she admitted she could do little to stop private individuals from paying ransom for their kidnapped relatives despite her administration’s "no ransom, no deal" policy.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said the demand for Perez’s involvement was a new development, differing from the contents of a letter from the bandits delivered to the President by one of the three hostages freed last Saturday.

The letter said the release of the three "was made unconditionally in order to open talks again," Tiglao said.

Perez said he was willing to serve as negotiator if allowed by the President. Tiglao, commenting on Sabaya’s proposal, said, "We will study it."

President Arroyo called off negotiations last week after the bandits claimed they had beheaded American hostage Guillermo Sobero.

"I have to do what I have to do but operations must continue," the President said in a pre-departure press conference at the Edwin Andrews Air Base here after visiting Basilan, where the bandits are still holding 26 hostages.

Mrs. Arroyo admitted that she was under "tremendous pressure" to suspend military operations but stressed that doing so would only make things worse.

"I am under tremendous pressure to back down but I cannot do so at the risk of higher national interest... We shall not surrender the combat initiative to the enemy," she declared.

"We cannot compromise on our firm policy. To step back an inch will court more danger not only to hostages but to others who may be targeted by the bandits," she added.

"While we cannot totally control private transactions, we discourage (the hostages’ families) and we will not support their efforts by facilitating them," Mrs. Arroyo said.

The President dismissed as "speculation" media reports that the victims’ families privately negotiated with the bandits to secure the captives’ release.

She cited the case of construction magnate Reghis Romero who denied paying ransom so that he would be released along with his companion Ma. Rizza Rodriguez and eight-year-old RJ Recio.

Resume talks, bandits ask

At the same time, Tiglao said former hostages Francis Ganzon and Kimberly Jao Uy were released unconditionally as a sign of goodwill for the resumption of negotiations.

Ganzon, a former assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), was the one who delivered the letter.

"A letter was brought by (Ganzon) which means this is an authentic letter saying that the release of the two was made unconditionally in order to open talks again," Tiglao said in a briefing at Malacañang.

"It was just an offer to resume talks and that was the reason why the two hostages were ‘unconditionally released.’ I’m using the phrase verbatim from the letter," he explained.

While Tiglao refused to reveal further details, he said the President has already ordered government negotiator William Castillo, a pseudonym for someone Malacañang has described as "one of the country’s best negotiators," to talk with the bandits.

But the President said she would press military operations to fulfill an earlier vow to eradicate the Abu Sayyaf.

"I know the anguish each family of every remaining hostage is encountering. But I appeal for understanding and support even if I know they will receive my appeal on the verge of tears and desperation," she said.

"(But) to suspend military and police operations and open the room for ransom negotiations will only bring back the Sipadan syndrome," she said.

She was referring to the Abu Sayyaf’s raid on the Malaysian island resort of Sipadan where they abducted 21 people, mostly European and South African tourists, on Easter Sunday last year.

The incident was a cause of embarrassment to the Estrada administration especially after it was reported that Libyan leader Muammar Ghadaffy put up several million dollars to release the Western hostages.

Authorities said the Abu Sayyaf has since used the money to buy more powerful arms and high speed boats as well as finance other kidnapping operations in Mindanao.

"The enemy will take the money and abscond. Then they will strike again in some unexpected place. We cannot allow this to happen and place our people forever hostage to a band of extremists," she said.

"We shall resolve this matter as it stands at present. We shall not relent until the threat is extinguished," she added.

Still no sign of Robot

Meanwhile, Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot, the mastermind of the Sipadan kidnapping, failed to appear in Zamboanga or Basilan yesterday but officials maintain he will be surrendering soon.

Outgoing Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson announced over the weekend that Andang had sent surrender feelers in exchange for an assurance that he would get a fair trial.

Andang leads a different faction of the Abu Sayyaf and has denied involvement in the ongoing hostage crisis in Basilan.

Camp Crame sources confirmed that another Abu Sayyaf leader, Radulan Sahiron, who has a P5-million price on his head, has also sent surrender feelers with some unspecified demands.

The sources said Sahiron was demanding media coverage of his surrender and that an unidentified newly elected senator fetch him from Basilan.

But Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said the military had no reports that Sahiron would surrender.

"We have no word as to Radulan Sahiron at this time. What we heard are the statements of Gov. Singson that Ghalib Andang intends to surrender after several conditions which Gov. Singson made public," Adan said.

But other Crame officials said the government would likely reject Andang’s demand that charges connected with the Sipadan kidnapping last year be dropped. – With Christina Mendez, Sandy Araneta, Delon Porcalla