Militants drop ransom demand for Ces Drilon in favour of development aid

Manila: Islamist militants in the southern Philippines on Tuesday indefinitely postponed their deadline to execute one of three hostages and instead agreed to consider an offer of development assistance after their demand for a 12-million peso (Dh994,220) ransom failed to evoke much of a response, a negotiator said.

"After hours of negotiation and six phone calls, the kidnappers suspended the execution of one of the hostages," said Haider Isnaji, son of Mayor Alvarez Isnaji of Indanan, one of the negotiators.

Television host Ces Drilon and cameraman Jimmy Veneracion of ABS CBN, and peace activist Octavio Dinampo were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members on June 8 while proceeding to interview leaders of the ASG and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in Sulu's hinterlands.

"I was able to convince the kidnappers to give up their ransom demand and accept instead a livelihood package from the local government of Sulu," said Isnaji.

"I told them frankly that they did not stand a chance of getting the ransom because the local government and the ABS CBN have a policy not to entertain ransom demands by kidnappers," he said. "They agreed not to hurt the hostages while talks continue," he said.

"They asked a lot of questions. They asked why police and military presence around them had increased. I told them there would be war if they hurt or killed the hostages."

With inputs from Ed General and Rafael Juan, Correspondents