| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Abu Sayyaf thugs promise to free Filipina hostage |
| 2002-05-30 |
| A Philippine Muslim rebel leader on the United States' most wanted list promised on Thursday to free a Filipina nurse held hostage for nearly a year but made no mention of two U.S. hostages held even longer. Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya welcomed a U.S. announcement of a $5 million reward on him and four other top rebel commanders, saying Washington's move gave them stature. Sabaya, speaking on local RMN radio, said his group would free nurse Deborah Yap any time. "We have news about Deborah," Sabaya told the radio station in a telephone call. "She has become a good Muslim. As a reward, we will release her." They've said they were going to free Deborah a couple times in the past year, and haven't come through. Since Sabaya might not be in control of her anymore, the promise is probably baseless. If the radio station can find Sabaya, it would seem the coppers and his own boys should be able to... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |