Jolo hostage was an arms dealer: paper

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, SEPT. 3. The American hostage in the custody of the Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines was engaged in procuring arms for the Islamic militant outfit, a newspaper reported today.

Abu Sabaya, an Abu Sayyaf spokesman and other group leaders, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Mr. Jeffrey Schilling had come to their hideout on Jolo island to take an order for the purchase of night vision goggles and assorted weapons.

However, a debate on certain religious issues, and his apparent criticism of the Abu Sayyaf leadership, turned him from an arms dealer to hostage.

The newspaper reporter also claims to have seen Mr. Schilling, who looked well. The American could not be photographed as he was not on ``display'' yet, Anu Sabaya was quoted as saying.

The group, however, is offering exclusive video footage of Mr. Schilling taken by the kidnappers for $ 25,000 or to the ``highest bidder''.

There appears to be little doubt that the Abu Sayyaf is not only aware of the art of negotiation, but knows how to ``use'' a media which is desperate for footage or exclusive reports. But, given the record of the Abu Sayyaf taking television journalists hostage, not many will be ready to take up the juicy offer.

Apparently, Mr. Schilling and the Abu Sayyaf leadership got into an argument on what age young ``mujahideen'' could use weapons. The American also stated that the 1999 death of Khaddafy Janjalani's (current leader of the Abu Sayyaf, present during the argument) elder brother had led to a leadership vacuum in the group.

Janjalani, who sat quietly through the argument, got one of his men to inquire from Mr. Schilling whether he knew a certain Shaun, an African-American who met with the Abu Sayyaf two years ago.

As soon as Mr. Schilling said yes, the Abu Sayyaf leadership was enraged, and accused him of being an American spy. His status was also transformed from that of an arms dealer to that of hostage.

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