Kidnappers agree to free Indonesians

The military said it has successfully negotiated with the kidnappers who had agreed to lower their demand from P4 million ($100,000) to P200,000 ($4,000) in exchange for the release of three Indonesian crewmen who were abducted on June 17.

As a result of the successful negotiations, the three Indonesians will be released "anytime", said Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina, the armed forces southern command chief.

Instead of calling it ransom, government negotiators and the kidnappers referred to it as a "board and lodging" fee, added Lt. Gen. Carolina.

He noted that it would represent a reimbursement of the money spent by a certain Commander Walub, the leader of the kidnappers who took hostage the Indonesian victims.

"Somebody is willing to pay for the board and lodging," revealed Lt. Gen. Carolina, but he did not identify the financier.

The Indonesian sailors, Capt. Munto Jacobus Winowatan, chief officer Julkipil, and chief engineer Pieter Lerriehan were seized together with their tugboat and cargo ship in the Sulu Sea on June 17. They were about to deliver coal from Indonesia, to Cebu, central Philippines.

The military will prevent the kidnappers from handing over their victims to the Abu Sayyaf group, which is also based in the southern Philippines, Lt. Gen. Carolina said.

The military in Sulu, he added, has learned that two of Walub's followers had links with the Abu Sayyaf group.

The group of Ghalib Andang, also known as Commander Robot, has been trying to convince Walub to hand over to him the three hostages, according to Lt. Gen. Carolina.

Andang has told Walub that the Abu Sayyaf group could negotiate for a higher ransom.

Lt. Gen. Carolina has ordered the 104th infantry brigade to track down the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu.

The military and Andang's group clashed twice last Friday, in the morning and in the afternoon in village Tanduh Patung, Maimbung town, Sulu. There were no reports of casualties on either side.

The soldiers recovered an M-16 armalite rifle, a garand, an M-14 rifle, and a .30 calibre Browning automatic rifle.