PHILIPPINES: ISLAMIC REBELS HOLDING WESTERN HOSTAGES RELEASE A LOCAL MAN THEY ABDUCTED 3 MONTHS AGO

Record ID: 740906

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: ISLAMIC REBELS HOLDING WESTERN HOSTAGES RELEASE A LOCAL MAN THEY ABDUCTED 3 MONTHS AGO
  • Date: 8th May 2000
  • Summary: JOLO, PHILIPPINES (MAY 8, 2000) (REUTERS) CU PHOTO OF RELEASED HOSTAGE PATRICK VIRAY
  • Embargoed: 23rd May 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JOLO, PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1E7FHYJC7LVEBWVRALS9ZBL2I
  • Story Text: Philippine Islamic rebels holding 21 tourists seized from a Malaysian resort island have released a local man they abducted three months ago after his family paid an undetermined sum for "board and lodging".
    Bank teller Patrick Viray was released on Sunday (May 7) by the Abu Sayyaf (Father of the Sword) rebels on Jolo island, 960 km (600 miles) south of Manila, after three months captivity, He was held by the same group which kidnapped the 21 hostages from a Malaysian dive resort two weeks ago.
    Viray was released after payment for "board and lodging,"
    a local euphemism for ransom, but his wife Pinky refused to specify the amount.
    Viray said he had been well treated by the hostage takers, and insisted his kidnapping was not just about money.
    "This is not just about the money, they have an ideology they are fighting for something, I hope the military stops the offensive. They are putting the hostages at risk," Viray said on Monday (May 8) after being released.
    Around the area where the hostages are being held, security is being stepped up with troops from the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) bringing in reinforcements.
    In an interview, the wife of released hostage Viray, Pinky, said she thought the foreign hostages would eventually be released.
    "We paid a certain amount for board and lodging. I hope they are going to release all the hostages", she said.
    Military officials have said they do not plan to launch an assault on the same groups of rebels holding hostages on Jolo, but the statement is the latest in a series of contradictory signals from Philippine authorities.
    On Sunday, President Joseph Estrada said the government was determined to avoid any action which could harm the hostages. But the chief of staff of the armed forces, General Angelo Reyes, said a rescue raid was possible if negotiations were prolonged.
    The Philippine government has chosen former rebel chief Nur Misuari as the chief negotiator, and emissaries of his have been in regular contact with the rebels.
    More talks will be held on Monday, Misuari has said.
    (gb/mf/bb/lh)
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