Rebels in Philippines Free 1 Captive
Muslim rebels released one of 21 mostly foreign hostages they have held in the southern Philippines for two months, an official said Saturday.
Robert Aventajado, the government’s chief negotiator, identified the Malaysian man as Zulkurmain Bin Hashim, 29. Aventajado said no ransom was paid, adding that the release was “a gesture of goodwill” by separatist Muslim group Abu Sayyaf.
The rebels still hold three Germans, two French, two Finns, two South Africans, a Lebanese, nine other Malaysians and a Filipina they seized April 23 from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan. The rebels brought them to the southern Philippine island of Jolo, an hour away from the resort.
Abu Sayyaf is the smaller, but more violent, of two Muslim rebel groups battling Manila to set up a separate Islamic nation.
A spokesman Thursday said negotiators would offer the rebels government projects instead of ransom.
The government has a policy of not paying ransom to kidnappers. On Monday, the spokesman said the rebels had demanded at least $1 million for each captive, but he stressed that the government would stick to its policy.
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