COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, WORLD NEWS: The Philippine government is working to win the release of 21 people kidnapped from a Malaysian resort. It is sending a negotiator to a remote island in the southern Philippines, where it is believed the hostages are being held. CNN's Maria Ressa reports.</s>MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Philippine authorities say this is where 21 hostages, including 10 international tourists kidnapped from the Malaysian island resort of Sipadan have been brought. Their kidnappers - former Muslim rebels working with the extremist group Abu Sayyaf. Officials say this is not the first time their leader, a man known as Commander Robot, has kidnapped for ransom.</s>ORLANDO MERCADO, PHILIPPINE DEFENSE SECRETARY: I think only God can determine how soon it will be over. But our basic considerations as usual are the safety of the hostages and at the same time, we hope that we would bring an end to this kidnap-for-ransom gang that is known to prey on foreigners in the Philippines, in the southern portion, and now they have obviously extended their evil intent into our neighboring countries.</s>RESSA: Nur Misuari has been named chief negotiator for the Philippine government. He is a former Muslim rebel leader who now heads a Muslim autonomous region</s>NUR MISUARI, CHIEF NEGOTIATOR: Actually, six of them, the white men are already in Jolo, according to my information, and they are kept in two barangais. I will not tell you the barangais</s>RESSA: All this while another group of Abu Sayyaf, this time on the island of Basilan, enters the sixth week of another hostage crisis. On Saturday, the Philippine military began a mission to rescue the 27 hostages, 17 of them elementary school children. But their operations have been hampered by bad weather, jungle terrain and land mines. Philippine officials say they are cautious. Their goal is the same in both situations - the safe release of all the hostages. Maria Ressa, CNN, Zamboanga City, the Philippines.
Philippine Authorities Working To Free Hostages