Philippine Guerrillas Threaten Hostages

May 29, 2001 -- A Muslim extremist group in the Philippines is threatening to kill its 20 hostages, including three Americans, if the government attempts to rescue them.

Leaders of the separatist insurgent movement Abu Sayyaf have taken to local airwaves, threatening the 20 hostages snatched over the weekend from the Dos Palmas luxury resort in Palawan, about 370 miles south of Manila.

"If we encounter the military and find out they are operating against us, we will kill all the hostages," a man identified as movement spokesman Abu Sabaya told RMN (Radio Mindanao Network). "We are ready to die fighting. This is suicide...the government knows what to do. The government knows our capability."

Sabaya also reportedly made a similar statement to the DXRZ radio station.

"We will not think twice to conduct mass killing once the military will launch offensive operations," he said, according to Reuters.

Reward for ‘Neutralization’ of Kidnappers

The Departments of Interior and Local Government and Tourism have jointly offered a reward of one million pesetas (approximately worth $20,000) to anyone who could give "information leading to the arrest and neutralization of these kidnappers," said Brig. Gen. Ediberto Adan, a Philippines armed forces spokesperson.

Adan said that the alleged ski-masked kidnappers used "a three-engine boat that can load some 40 to 50 people" during Sunday's abduction.

"By all indications, it was a well-planned raid," said Adan. "[The suspects] were well armed, they had a high-powered, high-capacity boat."

Sabaya said the hostages had been divided into two groups and would be taken to different islands in Basilan and Sulu provinces, the Associated Press reported.

Naval ships were also deployed to search the area, and the military had been directed to launch offensives against the armed suspects once they reached their alleged destination, the island of Sulu in the southern part of the archipelago.

"The military is mobilizing all its resources to prevent the bandits from bringing their hostages to Sulu," said armed forces Southern Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Danilo Servando.

But that was before the latest threat. Since then, the government has imposed a news blackout on the effort.

Arroyo: Strict No-Ransom Policy

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stressed a no-ransom policy.

"I am ready to do everything to crush the bandits, to allow thehostages to safely return to their families and to bring backpeace," Arroyo said.

Adan said the president gave "very strict instruction[s]" not to discuss ransom payment to the kidnappers. He noted that giving in to the ransom demands of the kidnappers is "one of the things that could motivate some of these terrorist groups" to believe that this is a "financially rewarding enterprise."

ABCNEWS sources have said the Abu Sayyaf obtained huge amounts of money from a hostage crisis in Jolo last year, after most of its demands were met.

The Abu Sayyaf is being blamed for a failed armed attack last week on the Pearl Farm resort on Samal island, about 600 miles southeast of Manila, but government officials said pirates may have been behind the attack.

Two resort workers were killed in the fighting, but the attackers were turned away.

Missionary Group Hopes for Quick, Safe Return

The Christian missionary group New Tribes Mission (NTM) released a statement calling for the quick and safe release of two of its members as well the 18 others

Martin Burnham and his wife Gracia, both members of NTM, were at Dos Palmas to celebrate their wedding anniversary at the time of the kidnapping, according to the statement. They had been members of the mission since 1995.

The Associated Press reported that Burnham went on the radio to offerreassurances to relatives, in the first contact since armed gunmensnatched the tourists in a daring raid early Sunday morning.

"I, along with my wife Gracia, are in the custody of the AbuSayyaf," Burnham said on radio RMN. "We are safe and we areappealing for a peaceful negotiations. They are treating us well." ABCNEWS' Gamay Palacios in Manila contributed to this report.