NBI denies role in secret ransom talks

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco yesterday denied reports linking his agency to supposed secret negotiations to secure the release of two Americans who had been held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf for a year.

"The bureau adheres to the government policy of not negotiating with any kidnap-for-ransom group, much less, with the Abu Sayyaf," Wycoco told reporters at a briefing.

Earlier reports published by three major newspapers in the Philippines aired the alleged involvement of the NBI in an effort to free American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham through ransom payment.

The dailies based their reports on a supposed "white paper," a euphemism for a document containing an expose on an issue from a secret source.

According to the paper that was given to reporters covering the defence beat on Monday, two teams of six NBI agents went to southern Zamboanga City on March 9 to arrange the payment, raised by the Burnham's missionary organisation, the New Tribes Mission and the victims' relatives.

The money was delivered to NBI by U.S. Interpol agents. NBI agents delivered $700,000 to a certain Galin Tilaob, allegedly a representative of Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya.

Tilaob split the remaining $300,000 with the agents, keeping for himself $150,000. But he was ambushed and killed by soldiers. The money remains missing.

Wycoco admitted signing a special order deploying six NBI agents to the south, but added that the operatives were on a mission to prevent terrorists from sneaking into the country.

The New Tribes Mission Philippines, to which the Burnhams belong, denied any knowledge of fund-raising activities for the couple's ransom. The mission maintains a no-ransom policy because it believes that paying ransom will endanger its other missionaries in the country and other parts of the world, it said in a statement issued on Monday.

Wycoco said the U.S. embassy also phoned him on Monday morning to deny the ransom report. The NBI director said that they have traced the source of the White Paper which he said was Senator Panfilo Lacson.

"Ever since it was announced that I was going to the United States to confer with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials about money laundering, drug trafficking, kidnap for ransom and terrorism, there have been relentless efforts to besmirch the image of the NBI," Wycoco told reporters.

The FBI is supposedly preparing to turn over to the Philippine government documentary evidence on Lacson's alleged bank accounts in the U.S.