Manila: The wife of kidnap-victim Australian Warren Rodwell revealed that she sold her house, a company and a car to raise four million pesos (Dh359,833) ransom payment, prompting his brother and sister to call on the Philippine police for the arrest and conviction of his Al Qaida-linked kidnappers in the southern Philippines.
“No one from our government or from the Australian government extended help to raise money for the ransom. We alone raised the money,” Miraflor Gutang, Rodwell’s wife, told the Inquirer.
The couple’s house in Pangi, their company (a water filling station) and a vehicle were sold. Her relatives from abroad also extended help, said Gutang, adding, “We gave only four million pesos and not seven million pesos, as claimed by other sources.”
Her cousin, Roger Gutang, personally counted the ransom money in front of Abu Sayyaf Commander Puruji Indama, Basilan Vice- Governor Al Rashid Sakalahul, also told the Inquirer, adding he was present when the ransom money was delivered to Indama’s camp (the place of which was not disclosed).
She “worked hard” for his release, Sahalahul said, adding that negotiations were conducted with Indama’s emissary.
The Abu Sayyaf also agreed to reduce the ransom demand from seven million pesos to four million pesos, said Sakalahul, adding that Rodwell’s wife acted quickly because Indama is known for beheading his kidnap victims.
Earlier, an unnamed official in Manila claimed that local officials had kept some three million pesos from the ransom money that was raised by Rodwell’s family.
Meanwhile, Rodwell’s elder sister Denise Capello and brother Wayne who arrived in Manila on Sunday night did not confirm the payment of ransom money for Rodwell’s release.
Exhausted
Addressing the police, Capello said: “We wish the Philippine police every success in tracking down the group that took Warren from his home. We hope they will be brought to justice so others won’t have to experience what Warren has just been through.”
“We would like to acknowledge in particular the Philippine National Police for all their efforts, on Warren’s behalf,” said Capello as she acknowledged Vice-Governor Sakalahul for his assistance, and for negotiating with Rodwell’s captors.
Wayne Rodwell also said: “My brother is delighted to be free. He has however lost a lot of weight and is exhausted. He will need medical support as well as time and space to recover”.
At the same time, both the Philippine and Australian governments refused to confirm that ransom was paid.
Philippine deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte categorically said: “The Philippine Government does not pay ransom.”
Last Saturday, a civilian found Rodwell, 54, a former soldier, alone in Pagadian’s wharf, 100 kilometres east of where he was kidnapped by armed men who posed as policemen in his home on December 5, 2011.
The Abu Sayyaf Group is still holding three other foreigners. It has been blamed for kidnap-for-ransom, beheadings, bombings, and other terror activities in the south and in Metro Manila.
The US government and the European Union have included the group on their respective lists of terrorist organisations.
