“…some of the most extremely violent rhetoric, from both sides, that
I’ve ever heard between a government and a terrorist organization…” “Muslim extremists who have been holding
an American hostage for the past eight months threatened to behead
their captive and send the head as a birthday present to President
Arroyo Thursday.

The Abu Sayyaf said the head of Jefrrey Schilling, the 25-year-old
Oakland, California native whom the group has held in the jungles
of Sulu since August last year, will be sent as “a gift” to the President
for her 54th birthday.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Arroyo declared yesterday all-out war against the
Abu Sayyaf rebels and ordered troops to take no prisoners unless the
bandits surrendered.” Phillipine Star A discussion thread on Plastic in reaction to this story suggests that the hostage is apparently an American Muslim who sought out the rebels himself “to hang out with them,” then got into trouble because he couldn’t answer their questions on Islamic doctrine.