Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday the American missionary couple and a Filipino nurse held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf may be released in a few days without payment of ransom.

"Definitely, no ransom is involved, and the Malaysian negotiators are not talking about any ransom or material thing regarding the release of Gracia and Martin Burnham and Deborah Yap," Lacson said in an interview.

But he neither confirmed nor denied talks that the Abu Sayyaf has been asking the government for $2 million in exchange for the freedom of the three hostages.

Lacson, who was irked by the fresh attack by presidential spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao on his role in the recent secret negotiations for the release of the hostages, denied Tiglao's charge that he met with Malaysian ex-senator Sairin Karno in Sabah recently to broker the safe release of the hostages.

"Everything that he (Tiglao) is saying is a lie. He should stop lying because he is not consistent in his lies," Lacson said.

But Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson, said: "The AFP is vehemently against the payment of ransom by anybody, person or entity in lieu of the release of the hostages."

He also revealed that Big. Gen. Roy Cimatu, Southern Mindanao commander, wants the arrest of those involved in the negotiation.

"We must all agree that paying ransom is detrimental to the national interest, to the security of our people. We must not forget that no less than 34 soldiers have died in Basilan trying to rescue the hostages that were taken since May 27 in Palawan," Cimatu said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III has asked to quiz Defence chief Angelo Reyes on the issue of the alleged previous ransom payoffs to the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers when Senate hearings resume for Reyes' confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

According to a radio report, Osmeña requested the CA to give him time to throw questions at Reyes, whom he claimed, together with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, to have knowledge of the $333,333-ransom payoff done by the government previously.

Osmeña claimed that the "military" received $98,039 as their share of the ransom, while some local government officials were given $39,215.