The government has blocked a reported $ 1 million (P 50 million) ransom for an American couple, Martin and Gracia Burnham; and Filipina nurse, Dorothy Yap, who were taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group, the military said.
Sources claimed the ransom payment was to be made by opposition senator, Panfilo Lacson.
"We blocked any possible ransom negotiation on December 7. Elite troops pounced on the unit of Hamsiraji Sali that was then negotiating for the ransom payment," said Colonel Hermogenes Esperon, head of the Task Force Group Thunder.
Sali was badly wounded along with 10 of his followers, and 11 others were killed, said Col. Esperon. "It looks like Hamsiraji Sali cannot recover from his critical wounds because the group is just relying on a self-styled medic."
At the same time, the Abu Sayyaf leader, Abu Sabaya, who had entrusted the hostages to Isnilon, another Abu Sayyaf leader, is still with the group.
He has also assigned 40 to 50 Abu Sayyaf members to watch over the American missionaries.
"Sabaya just wants to get the ransom," Col. Esperon alleged. He claimed that Sabaya has lost weight. The Abu Sayyaf leader and his group have been constantly on the move, and their food supplies will not last long.
Ransom negotiations thwarted
The government has blocked a reported $ 1 million (P 50 million) ransom for an American couple, Martin and Gracia Burnham; and Filipina nurse, Dorothy Yap, who were taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group, the military said.
