The United States said it had been unable to confirm that a taped radio message purportedly issued by an American hostage in the Philippines was genuine. The state department also repeated its position that no ransoms should be paid to Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebels holding Jeffrey Schilling and other captives. “We can't verify at this point that the voice on the tape is actually Mr Schilling,” said State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher.
“We certainly regard all statements made by hostages while they are in captivity to have been made under duress.” Schilling purportedly made a dramatic radio plea to the Philippine military to halt its assault on the kidnappers, but the government said on Thursday it was close to rescuing him.
Schilling, in a taped conversation released over Dxrz radio, said, “The Philippine government seems to believe that by declaring me dead and sacrificing my life, they can eliminate the Abu Sayyaf.” But the group will escape as soon as I'm dead.
He was apparently referring to earlier rumours that he had been killed.
The military is in the sixth day of a ground and air attack in Jolo designed to free 17 hostages and destroy the Abu Sayyaf.

Bureau Report