No talks on ransom payment - military

Top-brass military officials denied on Saturday that ransom negotiations are on for the release of American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham from the Abu Sayyaf and that it is approved by the U.S. government.

General Diomedio Villanueva, armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff said, "Any negotiations are out of the question as far as the military is concerned."

Southern command chief Lt.Gen. Roy Cimatu also denied such negotiations which reportedly has the backing of Washington and is now being monitored by U.S. officials.

Cimatu said, however, any negotiations for the Burnhams' release will not hamper the government's rescue operations to recover them including Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap.

"As far as we are concerned, we will continue our rescue operations," Cimatu said. Sources from the military said a group known to the Abu Sayyaf is conducting the negotiations which have reached a delicate stage.

A Washington Times story has said top White House officials were monitoring the talks. Francis Ricciardone Jr., U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, said his government maintains a no-ransom policy for captured Americans by the Abu Sayyaf.

"We do not pay ransom," he said, as his government has the policy to "deny (the hostage-takers) the benefits of their actions."

Congress minority leader Carlos Padilla said the U.S. government will be committing an "act of discourtesy" against the Arroyo government if it is true that the White House is indeed involved in such negotiations for the release of the Burnhams who are being held by the Abu Sayyaf for one year.

"If the reports are true, it is an act of rudeness and discourtesy if not downright interference (by the U.S.) in our internal affairs," Padilla said in a phone interview.

He, however, acknowledged that there are reports that the American couple would be set free for a ransom of $300,000 but these are still unverified. "But I'm sure nobody will confirm such reports," Padilla said.

Meanwhile, congressman Jose Apolinario Lozada Jr., chairperson of the House foreign relations committee, said he will not be surprised if the reports turned out to be true.

"I will not be surprised if the highest priority of the American government is the release of the Burnhams," Lozada said. Both legislators assailed national security adviser Roilo Golez for denying that ransom negotiations are taking place.

"It is the (U.S.) State Department that should deny or confirm the reports. Since when did Golez become the spokesman of Washington?" Padilla said.

Lozada said Golez's statement that the Philippines and the U.S. subscribed to the no-ransom policy conflicted with reports the U.S. government had changed its policy on ransom in order to be able to track down the abductors of American citizens.

"I doubt the veracity of his statement," Lozada said. He cited the recent recovery of Italian priest Fr. Giuseppe Pierantoni who insisted that he was not rescued by the military but was released on ransom from the Pentagon gang.

"The statement of Fr. Pierantoni was very damaging, so the more authorities insist no ransom was paid, the more the people do not believe them," Lozada said.