Manila: A militant group in the southern Philippines held hostage five people, including a Jordanian who works as Asia bureau chief of a Dubai-based TV network, two Manila papers said.

Baker Atyani, 43, of Al Arabiya, two Manila-based cameramen Ramelito Vela, 39, and Roland Letrico , 22; a driver and a guide from Jolo whose names were not released were held by Abu Sayyaf Group’s spiritual leader Yasser Igasan in the jungles of Jolo starting June 12, the Philippine Star said.

Igasan’s group has asked for P 50 million (Dh 4,166) ransom for their release, the Star said.

Atyani’s interview with Igasan was scheduled on June 12. The team, assisted by the driver of a van (called multi-cab) which belonged to the State College Hostel, and the guide headed for the interview at 5.45 Tuesday morning, the Star said.

On June 11, Atyani was in Zamboanga City interviewing Merehi Ibrahim, following an earlier interview with Uztad Abdul Baki Abubakar, also in Zambonaga on June 10, the paper said.

When Atyani and his cameramen went back to Sulu, Atyani met at the airport the entourage of Sulu Governor Sakur Tan who was then leaving for Zamboanga, Jolo reporter Nickee Butlangan told the Inquirer.

Atyani introduced himself to Tan’s communications team, and was later introduced to Tan. “We toured them (Atyani’s team) throughout mainland Jolo and he even met Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin (on that day),” Butlangan said, adding he was with Atyani until nine in the evening of June 11.

They promised Mayor Amin to cover Jolo’s celebration of Independence Day on Tuesday, but this did not happen, said Butlangan.

The Abu Sayyaf Group is still holding about three foreigners as hostages on Jolo. Three other foreigners were taken early this year, but were reportedly freed later.

The group has been blamed for high-profile kidnap-for-ransom, beheadings, bombings, and other terror activities in the south since the early 90s.

It was responsible for the bombing of a commercial ferry that sank and killed a hundred people at the Manila Bay in 2004, the first time it was reported to have launched terror activities in Manila.

It has been blamed for giving sanctuary in the southern Philippines in 2002 to members of the Jemaah Islamiyah who were allegedly behind the twin-bombings that killed 200 people in Bali, Indonesia in 2002.

The Jemaah Islamiyah is the Southeast Asian conduit of the Al Qaida terror network that was once headed by the late Osama bin Laden.