Muslim extremist rebels yesterday freed one hostage from among 20 captives held in the southern Philippines jungle, with negotiators confident the other 19 could be freed today.
Ms Lucrecia Dablo, a 35-year-old Filipina cook held for 119 days, emerged sobbing in the rain from the Abu Sayyaf camp on Jolo island to be led away by a government negotiator, Mr Roberto Aventajado.
Her release came soon after government emissaries had indicated that only two hostages, both French, would be freed following the payment of a ransom. But Mr Aventajado later said he expected the Abu Sayyaf gunmen to go ahead with the release of all 19 hostages today.
The Libyan envoy, Mr Rajab Azzarouq, who met Abu Sayyaf leaders yesterday, also said they were working on releases "tomorrow and in the coming days".
Ms Dablo, among 21 tourists and resort workers seized from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan on April 23rd, said: "I thought it was only a dream. But it is true. I learned about my release only this afternoon. I was so scared because I was the only woman going with the guards."
She was taken to a military base at Tagbak, a village on Jolo about 10 km from where the remaining hostages - five French, one Franco-Lebanese woman, two Finns, two Germans, three Malaysians, four Filipinos and two South Africans - were being held. Sources close to the mediators said a ransom had been delivered to the Abu Sayyaf and as a result, at least two of the five French captives could be released today.