Three Britons were kidnapped between May and early June, a local media report cited the British Embassy in Manila as admitting.

The Manila Standard cited reports that the British nationals were separately abducted and subsequently freed after their families or employers paid huge ransoms to the kidnappers. Apart from mentioning that "three British nationals have been kidnapped so far this year and held for periods up to three weeks," on the British Embassy's website, officials of the diplomatic mission in Manila refuse to provide more details.

The Standard said the kidnappers of one of the victims asked for a P10m ($200,000) ransom for the release of the captive. The report said the kidnappers cut off their victims ear and sent it to his relatives together with the video of the mutilation, to convince them to pay the ransom.

According to reports, the family of one of the victims was forced to cough up P10m and $150,000 after kidnappers cut off his ear and sent it to his relatives. The Philippines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco said his agency would coordinate with British embassy officials to verify the abductions.

"If there is a case to be investigated, we'll do it." But until then, the cases are to be treated as "unverified" reports, he said. Chief Superintendent Nestorio Gualberto, head of the police criminal investigation and detection group, said they had suspects"because the victim would not like to complain."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier aired suspicions that the recent series of abductions which lately have targeted not only local businessmen but foreigners as well, were the handiwork of certain personalities in the political opposition who are conspiring to destabilise the present government.

Four Singaporeans had earlier been reported to have been kidnapped and released after their relatives paid ransom. In southern Basilan, Muslim separatist rebels continue to hold on to their American hostages. Abu Sayyaf rebels late May abducted missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and America

The rebels claimed to have already beheaded Sobero who is suffering from Diabetes, but up to now, his remains have not yet been found. Kidnapping is a major peace and order in the Philippines and is considered a capital crime in the country.

Arroyo had said that her government was giving priority to putting a stop to the abductions by
setting up a "super-body" of key government agencies to coordinate law enforcement efforts.