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ZAMBOANGA, April 10 (AFP)-Islamists holding 31 hostages in the southern Philippines warned they would start beheading their male captives if Manila failed to produce a movie star as chief negotiator within 72 hours. Those who would be "executed" include Filipino Roman Catholic priest, Roel Gallardo, six teachers and two students, the Abu Sayyaf group stated. The nine were among more than 50 civilians taken hostage from two schools in the island of Basilan on March 20. "The government must be thinking we are joking. Wait until we send (them) the heads of our male hostages. It will send a strong signal to the government that we are not fooling around," said Abu Ahmad, the group spokesperson. Armed forces chief of staff General Angelo Reyes declined to react to the group’s demand. The Abu Sayyaf group, which operates mostly out of Basilan and nearby islands, is the smaller of two Islamist groups fighting for the establishment of an independent Islamic state in the south. In the past it has been linked to kidnappings of foreign Christian missionaries and notably a bloody sacking of the southern town of Ipil in 1995 that left more than 50 people dead. 23 of the original Abu Sayyaf captives were freed late last month in exchange for food and medicine and the freedom of their leader's wife and daughter who had in turn been snatched by vigilantes in a counter-abduction. Ahmad said the group would only consider the release of the remaining victims if the government appointed local action movie star Robin Padilla as chief negotiator. President Joseph Estrada has earlier rejected the demand, saying Padilla, who converted to Islam following a brief stint in jail on guns charges, did not have the capability or expertise to handle hostage situations. "They have 72 hours. If the government does not allow Padilla to negotiate for the safe release of the hostages, we will invite reporters to witness the execution of the captives," said Ahmad. He also called on the Vatican to take part in negotiations or send a representative to help in the talks. "We are holding a Catholic priest and the Pope should act swiftly to save the life of his servant and the rest of the hostages," he added. Cris Puno, spokesperson of a crisis management committee earlier formed to deal with the Abu Sayyaf, said committee members have agreed to have Padilla as "one of the negotiators" but stressed the group should put forth "some form of goodwill" by first releasing all the children in custody. "It's not a guarantee that the Abu Sayyaf will release the hostages even if Robin Padilla will be there," Puno said, noting that the group has previously reneged on a promise to release 15 children. He said the group should first agree to release all 18 children, including the boys, before Padilla would be allowed to negotiate for the release of the adults.” This (is) goodwill on the part of the Abu Sayyaf," he said. Southern Philippines military commander Major General Diomedio Villanueva declined to comment on the Abu Sayyaf threat, saying he had "direct orders" from the crisis committee to refrain from interviews. The military earlier suspended all rescue efforts, but said it was ready to launch an assault if given the green light. Military sources here said Villanueva has requested additional scout rangers to be deployed to Basilan. An armed vigilante group holding nine relatives of Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani meanwhile has an outstanding deadline for the Sayyaf group to release all the hostages by April 15, or they would execute their own hostages by firing squad.
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