'Scholarship' eyed for Abu kidnappers
By Charmaine Deogracias, Joel San Juan,
Mirasol Ng-Gadil,
Manny B. Marinay and Macon Ramos-Araneta
JUST as talks
of asylum for Abu Sayyaf leaders opened the possibility for a resolution of the 123-day
hostage drama in Sulu, Cabinet officials started issuing contradictory statements, casting
new doubts on the government’s crisis management skills.
Foreign Affairs
executives slightly backed off their earlier approval of asylum for Abu Sayyaf rebels
holding 24 hostages in Sulu, but said the reported Libyan offer of a scholarship for some
of the group’s leaders could break the impassè in release talks.
Chief government
negotiator Robert Aventajado kept his silence on the new development and would neither
confirm nor deny statements by emissaries based in Sulu.
In Malacañang,
however, Press Secretary Ricardo Puno immediately stomped on the asylum proposal, even
while admitting he had yet to discuss the issue with President Estrada.
Despite the new
controversy, members of the negotiating panel expressed optimism for a release in the next
few days, claiming most problems had been settled and that final details were being
cleared.
“They already
know that we will comply with what they asked for,” the negotiator said. “They
have reacted positively,” he added, without elaborating.
A negotiator also
said Libya and the Philippines have decided to accept a rebel demand that the hostages be
released in at least two batches.
The first batch
would consist of the remaining Western women – a South African and three French. The
men’s release would follow, according to the negotiator.
Disagreement
Foreign Affairs
Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. said Libya’s offer may be misconstrued and derail the
Middle East nation’s campaign to lose its pariah status as a coddler of terrorists.
Siazon, however,
said he would not reject the possibility of asylum, which Defense Secretary Orlando had
endorsed earlier.
He noted that
Philippine negotiators and their Libyan advisers were aware of the parameters of
negotiations involving international crime.
Press Secretary
Ricardo Puno expressed surprise at Siazon’s statement and said he would have to clear
the asylum issue with President Estrada.
“I have not
talked to the President yet (about the matter). I was even surprised because
yesterday I was not aware that there was such a statement made,” Puno said.
Yet, he
immediately rejected the proposal.
“I think it
is very clear. Even the United States had already aired its opposition against it
(the granting of political asylum to Abu Sayyaf leaders). They said that it is not
right and that they are opposed to it,” Puno said.
Palace sources
also said Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora was still studying both the asylum proposal
and the US offer to intervene in the hostage crisis.
Press
Undersecretary Mike Toledo described asylum as a theoretical possibility, noting that
negotiations were still ongoing.
Back to Sipadan Hostages News
Back
to This Week's Borneo News |
