ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Aug. 8 -- Muslim extremist released unharmed Monday a Roman Catholic priest they held hostage for 60 days, a top government official said. 'Father (Cirilo) Nacorda is already in our hands and he will be flown to Zamboanga City,' Vice President Joseph Estrada told the state- run radio.
The Abu Sayaf guerrillas abducted Nacorda and a busload of people near Isabela, Basilan 550 miles (880 km) south of Manila. Fifteen of the Christian passengers were allegedly killed for their refusal to recite an Islamic prayer. The priest and 20 other hostages were taken to the group's hide-out. The 20 hostages were released after government negotiators paid 200, 000 pesos ($7,500) to the kidnappers for 'food and lodging' expenses incurred by the captives. The guerrillas, fearing government attack, demanded an additional 3 million pesos ($114,000) ransom for Nacorda. Estrada, who is also the chief of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission, negotiated directly with the kidnappers a week after a military offensive failed. Details of the negotiations were not known but Estrada insisted that no ransom was paid in exchange for Nacorda. The release of Nacorda came a day after a kidnapped Chinese-Filipino businessman was found dead in Davao City 610 miles (980 km) south of Manila. So Kim Cheng, a regional head of the Philippine Olympic Committee was abducted at gunpoint by unidentified men from his pig farm on the outskirts of the city. Dozens of people, mainly wealthy executives and Christians missionaries, have been abducted in the Muslim-dominated southern Philippines by former Muslim rebels who have turned to kidnapping and other crimes after their movement for a separate state fizzled in the 1980s.
