Abu Sayyaf outstmarted the
gov't--JokerQUEZON CITY,
(ABS-CBN) - The extremist Abu Sayyaf group is outsmarting the government Makati Rep. Joker
Arroyo said on Tuesday even as he stressed back-door negotiations by private parties for
the release of the hostages were able to slip under the noses of government officials.
"What we were made to understand is that the government would tolerate
the negotiations but it would be on a package deal basis -- that is, all hostages would be
reduced for a fee in one deal."
"But what happened? Under the very noses of the government, there were
separate piecemeal deals -- the Malaysian deal, the German deal and the what-not-deal --
totaling, it turns out, P245 million. Government here goofed, and government was
outsmarted," Arroyo said.
Arroyo said a military operation against hostage takers will be prove to be
futile since the bandits was able to fortify its strength after collecting P245 million.
He said the Au Sayyaf stands to earn more since it still holding 17 hostages.
"Abu Sayyaf outflanked the government by engaging in retail trade
release. Abu Sayyaf has found a prosperous cottage industry, the retailing of
hostages," he stressed.
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