PHILIPPINES - PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

Or Zamboanga City:

The rebels say they believed 24 year old Jeffrey Schilling works for the CIA, a rebel spokesman said in a Philippine radio interview. The spokesman said Schiller would be killed if Washington and Manila did not negotiate. "Maybe we will behead him," he said. "We have been trying very hard to get an American because the Americans may think we are afraid of them," he replied when asked if they had abducted Schilling to prevent a military operation against Abu Sayyaf. Schilling arrived in the Philippines in March and has been living in a house with his Filipino girlfriend in Zamboanga, according to immigration records. http://www.designofmine.com/philippines/nydn083000.html

Even children, teachers and Priests are at risk:

The Abu Sayyaf, which says it is fighting for an independent Islamic state, is also holding six other Westerners and 12 Filipinos on Jolo Island. The group freed six hostages last week for a reported $6 million ransom, paid by Libya. It freed other hostages earlier.

Schilling is held on Jolo by another Abu Sayyaf faction, however, one responsible for kidnapping about 50 schoolchildren and teachers in March on neighboring Basilan Island.

Two of the teachers were beheaded after the United States ignored the group's demand for the release of several Arab terrorists held in U.S. jails. The faction also tortured and killed a Catholic priest. http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/southeast/09/03/philippines.hostages.ap/

Jolo Island Rebels: The Philippines has been plagued by kidnap-for-ransom gangs in recent years, causing a drop in tourism and economic activity nationwide. The stock market fell 2.1% after reports of the latest kidnapping, which comes amid worries about the government's widening budget deficit.

Last month, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered police to wipe out 21 kidnap gangs within a year. The list did not include Abu Sayyaf, which is primarily the military's responsibility.

Abu Sayyaf guerrillas often demand ransom, but also use poor hostages as slave laborers and human shields. Some women captives have been forced to marry guerrillas. They have even captured people in nearby MALAYSIA and brought them to Philippines!

A Filipino man is still being held from another Abu Sayyaf mass kidnapping two years ago from a tourist resort in the neighboring nation of Malaysia. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2002-08-21-philippines-hostages_x.htm

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