Businessman denies playing a role in ransom negotiations

Filipino-Chinese businessman Lepeng Wee has denied reports linking him to ongoing backdoor negotiations for the release of American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap who are being held by the Abu Sayyaf Group in the hinterlands of Basilan, southern Philippines.

"I'm content to live as a private individual and away from controversy," said Wee, a former adviser to ousted president Joseph Estrada and who once assisted in the negotiations for the release of nine Malaysians who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in Sipadan on April 23, 2000.

Wee's aide, Rodrigo Balbon, rejected reports that they went to Sandakan through Singapore for talks with certain Malaysian mediators who exert influence over the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers. "I never talked to any newsman or anybody about such information," Wee said, adding that involving himself in a controversy won't benefit him.

Earlier reports claimed that Wee met with influential Malaysians in Sabah to convince them to negotiate for the release of the hostages who have been in captivity since May last year.

Meanwhile, National Security Council (NSC) chief Roilo Golez said the government recognises only one emissary, William Castillo.

Although he rejected proposals to open ransom talks with the kidnappers, Golez said, "If they (Abu Sayyaf) want to talk, the lines are open. But they should talk to the official negotiator."

Golez said the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers themselves were trying to negotiate with a group of individuals from Manila. He did not elaborate, though.

He said the government was aware of efforts by the Zamboanga City-based Wee to intercede for the release of the hostages. But he stressed that unauthorised discussions with the kidnappers might only endanger the lives of the captives.

The abductors were reportedly demanding $2 million for the Burnhams and $29,411 for Yap. It was also reported that the $300,000 already delivered to the Abu Sayyaf through a third party was just a down payment for the total ransom being sought.

President Gloria Arroyo said that neither the Philippine nor the U.S. governments could stop ransom negotiations being initiated by families of the hostages.

Arroyo admitted that relatives of kidnap victims would never admit that they resorted to ransom payment.

"The no-ransom policy is only applicable to the government," Arroyo said. "The government does not pay ransom. As for the victims, we try to discourage them. But if they do that, of course, they won't inform the government about it."

She said the government has been applying "moral persuasion" to relatives of the kidnapped victims for them not to pay ransom. She did not elaborate.

Col. Alexander Aleo, commander of the 103rd Army Brigade based in Basilan, said in a report to Manila that government soldiers continue to scour areas where the Abu Sayyaf leaders are believed to be hiding with their hostages.

"We cannot leave any stone unturned," Aleo said, adding that ground intelligence have provided the military with leads on the hostages' location.

The Abu Sayyaf Group seized the Burnhams during a raid on the posh resort of Dos Palmas in Palawan, southwestern Philippines, on May 27, 2001.

The same group kidnapped Yap when they brought their hostages from Palawan to Lamitan town in Basilan on June 2.