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Rebels hold Manila military chief hostage
Muslim separatists in the southern Philippines are holding Manila's military chief, the head of the government's truce panel, a colonel and an undetermined number of soldiers hostage, senior military sources said on Saturday.Members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were refusing to let Brigadier-General Ben Dolorfino, the commander of military forces in the capital, and Ramon Santos, government undersecretary for the peace process with the MNLF, leave their camp until their jailed founder was released. Local media reported that more than 20 senior military, defense and government officials were being held at the MNLF's camp near Panamao town on Jolo island, 600 miles (950 km) south of Manila but senior military sources, who declined to be identified, would only confirm three hostages. Dolorfino, a Muslim convert who had flown to Jolo for talks with the MNLF, told reporters by text message that he was safe. "Sorry I can't comment. Just wait for the policymakers to speak," he said. A military spokesman declined to comment. The governor of Sulu, an archipelago that includes Jolo, said a local MNLF commander, Habier Malik, had refused to allow Dolorfino, Santos and 11 others to leave on Friday until their leader, Nur Misuari, was released from detention in Manila. Misuari was jailed in 2002 for rebellion after the breakdown of a peace deal the MNLF signed with the government in 1996. Misuari's followers want him to go to Saudi Arabia this month for a meeting of government officials, rebel leaders and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to review progress of the peace deal, which they argue has not been properly implemented. Dolorfino, former deputy commander of the Philippines's southern forces, is the highest-ranked Muslim in the armed forces. Posted by: ryuge 2007-02-03 |
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