April 2, 2001, PHNO, Schilling's Head Offered as Sayyaf B'day Gift to GMA,

April 2, 2001, PHNO, Schilling's Head Offered as Sayyaf B'day Gift to GMA, 

Manila, April 2, 2001 - The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is threatening to behead American hostage Jeffrey Schilling on the birthday of President Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday, April 5 unless the government starts negotiations for the captive's release. The ASG said that the beheading with push through at around five in the afternoon to give the Philippine government ample time to send an emissary who will negotiate with them.

Unfazed by the threat, defense Secretary Angelo Reyes told reporters "the government's policy regarding terrorists remains the same," stressing that "we will never negotiate with terrorists."

Reyes said this "grotesque" threat of Abu Sayyaf spokesperson Abu Sabaya "is the clearest evidence perhaps that they are real terrorists."

Sabaya, in an interview over Radio Mindanao Network this morning threatened to decapitate Schilling if the government does not send the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Basilan to negotiate for the American's release.

President Macapagal-Arroyo has assured that the armed forces "have the situation well in control."

Reyes said the President's instruction was to intensify efforts at recovering not only Schilling but also Filipino dive master Rolando Ullah. Ullah was seized last year from a Malaysian resort along with dozens of foreign and local hostages. Schilling became a hostage when he was prevented from leaving during a visit to the Abu Sayyaf lair shortly after the hostage crisis erupted.

Most of the hostages were released after millions of dollars were reportedly paid in ransom while others were either rescued or escaped after a military assault was launched last September.