NEWSFLASH 

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ROBIN’S ROLE IN HOSTAGE CRISIS QUESTIONED

Manila, April 13, 2000 - Senators Rodolfo Biazon and Aquilino Pimentel Jr are questioning the fielding of Robin Padilla to mediate with extremist Muslim rebels in Basilan.

The two solons say the actor may just add up to the already confusing and tensefilled situation.

"I'm not saying that he should not go. (What) I'm saying (is) that sending a movie actor and a criminal for that matter would only exacerbate the situation and Mr. Padilla is a convicted criminal," Pimentel said.

"I'm not against anybody who can help in the release of the hostages. What I have some reservations on is the competence of Padilla to negotiate on substantial issues in Abu Sayyaf or any other Muslim rebel group. For me its trivializing our problem in Mindanao," he added.

Biazon, chairman of the Senate committee on national security and defense, said the issue relating to the so-called "command authority" needs to be addressed immediately.

"There is a great difference between a peace negotiator who is only a mouthpiece and a hostage negotiator who is given the authority to bargain, haggle and make commitments for and in behalf of the government," Biazon said.

"Where are they? Who should really be in charge of the situation? Definitely it cannot be Zamora, not Aventajado not Rep. Gerry Salapuddin and definitely it can not be Padilla," Biazon said.

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