Albigny-sur-Saone, France - Former French hostage Stephane Loisy on Saturday said he was "disgusted" with the Philippines' military operation to rescue the remaining 22 hostages held by extremists in the island of Jolo.
"I am disgusted ... I felt sick watching it," Loisy told reporters here, refering to a military operation launched early on Saturday after a nearly five-months hostage crisis.
The 34-year-old engineer was released by the Abu Sayyaf group on September 9, after more than four months in captivity and nearly two weeks after the release of his girlfriend Sonia Wendling, who was also held hostage in the island.
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"The military and the Philippine government that have staged all this did not deserve our trust, it's deplorable, it's shameful," he said.
| 'I am disgusted ... I felt sick watching it' |
Loisy said he and his girlfriend had been "very, very well treated" by the rebels and that "the hostage-takers did not want to hurt the hostages".
"I hope that they will succeed in saving themselves," he said of the Muslim rebels.
Another ex-hostage, Risto Vahanen of Finland, also criticised the rescue operation, news agency FNB reported.
"An attack, that is what we feared the most," Vahanen said, adding that the Philippine military had launched two attacks on Abu Sayyaf hideouts while he was being held.
"I am very afraid that human lives have been lost," he said, urging the Philippines government to put down arms and start new negotations.
Eighteen hours after Saturday's pre-dawn assault on the Abu Sayyaf guerilla hideouts, Defence Secretary Orlando Mercado said there were no casualties among the hostages - one American, two Frenchmen, three Malaysians and 16 Filipinos.
Mercado also said 18 guerillas had been detained while fleeing the military offensive, which involved thousands of soldiers. - Sapa-AFP
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