American May Have Argued Way Into Captivity

Muslim rebels who took an American man hostage in the southern Philippines did so after he angered them in an argument over religious issues at their jungle camp, a newspaper reported Sunday.

“There was a scuffle, and suddenly Schilling had become a hostage,” freelance reporter Arlyn de la Cruz quoted a rebel as saying in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Jeffrey Schilling of Oakland went to the camp voluntarily, the paper reported. He was being held by the Abu Sayyaf rebels inside a bamboo hut guarded by 10 to 15 men when De la Cruz visited Friday.

His hands had been tied with electrical wire since Tuesday, when he damaged the door to the hut, the paper said.

The Abu Sayyaf, which seeks an independent Islamic state, is holding six other Westerners and 12 Filipinos on Jolo Island. The group freed six hostages last week for a reported $6 million ransom, paid by Libya. It had freed other hostages earlier.

Schilling is held on Jolo by a different faction of Abu Sayyaf, one responsible for kidnapping about 50 schoolchildren and teachers in March on Basilan island.

U.S. Defense Secretary William S. Cohen plans to discuss Schilling’s abduction and cooperation in the fight against terrorism during a two-day visit to Manila starting Sept. 15, Philippine Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said Sunday.

The rebels reportedly demanded $10 million for Schilling’s release last week, although a spokesman later denied that. The U.S. State Department has ruled out paying ransom.

Schilling, 24, converted to Islam several years ago and has been living in southern Zamboanga since March with a Muslim Filipina.

Schilling reportedly angered the rebels in arguments Thursday over such issues as the age at which Muslim boys should be allowed to use weapons.