DATE=9/13/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINES HOSTAGES UPDATE - S
NUMBER=2-266436
BYLINE=KONRAD MULLER
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=VOICED AT:
///// UPDATES CR 2-266423 /////
INTRO: The Philippine government says it will continue
negotiations with Muslim rebels to end the five month
hostage crisis, but is not ruling out military
options. As Konrad Muller reports from Manila, the
decision came after an emergency security meeting
Wednesday.TEXT: Following earlier signals Manila was
contemplating the use of force, President Joseph
Estrada cut short his visit to the United States by a
day and came home Wednesday.After a meeting of cabinet security officials,
presidential spokesman, Ricardo Puno, says
negotiations will be given more time to gain the
release of the captives held by the Islamic extremist
Abu Sayyaf group on Jolo island. He did, however, say
all options remained open.The hostage crisis was originally triggered in April
when a group of 21 mainly-foreign captives were
abducted from a Malaysian diving resort. Except for
one Filipino, all have been released, reportedly for
up to 15 million dollars in ransom.Since then, more than a dozen other people have been
taken and are still being held. The latest incident
came Sunday when rebels abducted three people from
another Malaysian resort.NEB/HK/KM/JO
13-Sep-2000 07:24 AM EDT (13-Sep-2000 1124 UTC)
NNNNSource: Voice of America
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