Officials deny claims of P50 million ransom demand by Abu Sayyaf

Manila: Officials denied claims of P 50 million (Dh 4,5 million) ransom demand by Al Qaida-linked kidnappers who have been holding three Red Cross aid workers in the southern Philippines since January 15, officials said.

The officials blamed Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema for wrongfully airing the alleged ransom demand of the Abu Sayyaf Group for the release of Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni, and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who were kidnapped near a provincial jail in Jolo on January 15.

"I am not aware of any such demand. Why did the mayor mention the ransom, and what is their recommendation? I think we have to remain steadfast against paying ransom and find other ways to convince the kidnappers that what they did was wrong," Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said.

Hinting that the ranson demand was never true, Senator Richard Gordon said, "We have not received any report of a ransom demand."

"I had been telling the kidnappers they cannot get any ransom from us (at the Red Cross) because we are not going to give it," Gordon said, adding, "I want this to end without ransom paid. I have been telling this to the kidnappers in our phone conversation."

"In my personal conversation with them, the only demand they relayed to me was the withdrawal of government troops from the area near the hideout of the Abu Sayyaf," said Gordon, adding, "Members of Red Cross cannot work under a constant threat of possible abduction again in Mindanao. The Red Cross wants to continue working here and helping even the kidnappers' relatives in the south."

The Red Cross in Manila have been in contact with the hostages who said they were together in one hideout of the Abu Sayyaf in Indanan town, Jolo, said Gordon, hinting that the release of the aid workers is impending.

Meanwhile, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde maintained that the local crisis management committee in Jolo will be in charge of the release of the Red Cross workers.

"We feel they know how to deal with this situation," Remonde said, adding, "The crisis committee is handling many developments with regards the kidnapping, but we cannot reveal them right now, for the safety of the hostages and for national security reasons."

Sources also told Gulf News that the kidnap victims will be released soon.

The Abu Sayyaf Group has alleged link with the Jemaah Islamiyah, the Southeast Asian conduit of the Al Qaida terror network.

It has been involved in kidnap-for-ransom and other terror activities in the south and in Metro Manila.