Abu Sayyaf money traced

Philippine authorities have succeeded in tracing an estimated $100 million (P5 billion) ransom money which was paid to the Abu Sayyaf Group over the past five years, a senior official said.

"We have information on some people who were used as bagmen. We have identified some of the personalities," stated National Security Council head, Roilo Golez.

The group has received an estimated $21 million from non-government organisations (NGO) from Europe, Malaysia and Libya, for the release of 40 mostly foreign hostages who were taken from Malaysia and Jolo, southern Philippines, from April to August last year.

The major part of the ransom payment came from a Mindanao-based foundation led by the son of Libyan President, Muammar Gaddafi.