Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo offered yesterday the "peace of the graveyard" to Muslim rebels who held a US hostage for months on southern Jolo island - unless they surrender.
"This confirms the correctness of our policy of all-out war," Ms Arroyo said, referring to the rescue by government forces on Thursday of the Californian, Mr Jeffrey Schilling, from more than seven months of captivity by the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas.
Ms Arroyo, interviewed on Manila radio station dzRH, said she was standing firm on her position of no negotiations with armed groups, like the Abu Sayyaf, which challenged her government's authority.