The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported yesterday that Justice Secretary Hernando Perez disclosed the offer during a meeting of lawyers in northern Pampanga province.
"I'm not sure if it's (a) serious (proposal) or if it is a joke," the report was quoted Perez as saying.
"But we checked on this and apparently it is a mere expression of sentiment of some sectors," he added.
Apparently there were not takers among the Abu Sayyaf, which has 10 hostages, including two Americans, in its custody in the jungles of southern Basilan island. Local and U.S. authorities have linked the group to Al Qaeda's worldwide network.
The business sector is saying that if the Abu Sayyaf really wants to go to Afghanistan, they're willing to pay for the one-way ticket of the Abu Sayyaf, he said.
The justice secretary stressed that the plane ticket was only one way, indicating that businessmen desperately want the militants out and for good.
Perez did not cite the names of the businessmen or the business groups that have made such offer.
On Tuesday, leaders of the Islamic Movement for Electoral Reform and Good Government based in Marawi City said hundreds of Filipinos were willing to go to Afghanistan if they were recruited to fight with the Taliban.
