Sayyaf offers ‘last deal’

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Abu Sayyaf group has offered to hold "last deal" negotiations to release an American missionary couple and a Filipina nurse they have held hostage for more than 11 months, a local radio station reported yesterday.

Radio Mindanao Network’s dxRZ Radyo Agong here said Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, offered final negotiations with Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Parouk Hussin, presidential adviser Norberto Gonzales and an unidentified Malaysian.

Sabaya called the station twice on Sunday but station manager Rey Bayogin said only one call was taped and broadcast yesterday.

Sabaya said their hostages, American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and nurse Deborah Yap, were "in good health" but denied that his group had received a reported $300,000 ransom from Martin’s father Paul.

Last week Paul said the Abu Sayyaf reneged on a March 13 agreement to release the couple and Yap. He did not specify conditions for the release but said the deal was negotiated by a man who identified himself as Abu Sulaiman.

"Our family did what the Abu Sayyaf asked and we believed in them. They are now saying they do not intend to keep their promise this time," Paul said in an interview with Radyo Agong last week.

Asked if the group had authorized Sulaiman to negotiate, Sabaya said: "The only thing I can say is that the hostages are not with Abu Sulaiman."

"There are people who are trying to get in touch with the group but I think it should be the Philippine government" that should negotiate, he said.

"I think they are okay now. Of course, they are in good health but they can’t remain in good health. I hope the Philippine and US governments can do something for the resolution of the crisis," Sabaya said.

The hostages are the last of a group of 20 people the Abu Sayyaf seized from a resort off Puerto Princesa City on May 27 last year.

They were later brought by motorized bancas to Basilan island where the military has been pursuing them with training and technological assistance from some 160 US Army Special Forces.

But Sabaya taunted the 1,000 US troops stationed here and Basilan to train Filipino troops in anti-terrorism technology and operations.

"What I can say to the US government and the Special Forces (is) ‘welcome to the party’," Sabaya said.

"This is really embarrassing for the Philippine government because the hostages have been staying for more than 11 months now. They have this superpower but I think they can do nothing to us," he said.

But Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) spokesman Lt. Col. Danilo Servando said the ongoing operation against the bandits will not be affected.

"The policy still holds that we will not entertain any ransom or any negotiations unless it is about the unconditional surrender of the Abu Sayyaf and the release of the remaining hostages,’ he said.

Hussin, for his part, said he would be willing to help if President Arroyo allows him to participate. Hussin is also a Tausug like most Abu Sayyaf bandits and had also been a member of the separatist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) before it signed a peace pact with the government.

The terrorists have in the past demanded mediation by former Malaysian Sen. Sairin Karno and merchant Yusof Hamdan but the Philippine and Malaysian governments have refused, calling the abductions an internal matter.