Muslim Rebels Release Ailing German Hostage

Muslim rebels Monday freed an ailing German woman who had been held in a Philippine jungle since she and 20 other mostly foreign hostages were abducted April 23.

Renate Wallert, 57, is the first European hostage to be freed by the Abu Sayyaf rebels, who earlier released two Malaysians. Officials said that the release, carried out through go-betweens, was a gesture of goodwill by the rebels and that no ransom was paid.

“I hope this will really lead us to releases of the other hostages,” chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said after welcoming Wallert with an embrace.

Wallert has high blood pressure and has suffered from chronic anxiety during her jungle captivity, according to doctors who visited her at the rebels’ jungle camp on impoverished Jolo island. Her husband, Werner, and son, Marc, remain captive.

“I said, ‘No, I will not go without you and my son, Marc,’ ” Wallert said she told her husband. “Today is our 34th wedding anniversary.”

Aventajado consoled her, saying, “I’m sure your husband understands why you have to be separated today.”

Wallert’s release appears to be a turning point in talks that were suspended for more than a month by Aventajado after the guerrillas’ demands began escalating.

Last week, Aventajado agreed to resume contacts through a go-between with Galib Andang, an Abu Sayyaf commander holding most of the hostages. Since then, Andang, also known as Commander Robot, has presented a revised set of demands.

The revised demands include government assistance for various livelihood projects on Jolo, including an orange plantation that would be developed partly on land owned by Andang and would be turned into a cooperative for farmers, Aventajado said.

Wallert and the 20 others were seized while vacationing at Malaysia’s Sipadan diving resort.