Abu Sayyaf wants $5M for ICRC release - military report

MANILA, Philippines - The Abu Sayyaf bandits have reportedly demanded a $5-million ransom for the release of the three Red Cross workers they abducted in southern Philippines almost three months ago, a military document said. The document was prepared long before the release of one of the hostages in Sulu province. “The kidnappers are reportedly demanding $5 million," the report said. The al Qaeda-linked bandit group abducted Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba, all members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), last January 15 in Patikul town. Lacaba was freed last Thursday and turned over to Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Ann Sahidulla in Indanan. The government said no ransom was paid to secure her release. The same military report confirmed the P20-million ransom paid for the freedom of ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and her crew, who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in June last year and released weeks later. “A total of P20 million was paid through the negotiation made by [Indanan] Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son [Haider]," the document said. The two were later arrested by the police and charged as accessory to the Drilon kidnapping. Both the ICRC and Drilon kidnappings were perpetrated by the group of Albader Parad, a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf who has a $15,000 cash reward for his neutralization. A Sulu-based military spokesman, meanwhile, did not confirm the ransom demand of the Abu Sayyaf for the ICRC workers. “As of now, we have no information on that. I heard it from you first," said Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, the designated spokesman for the Sulu hostage crisis. Arevalo maintained that the military and the Crisis Management Committee headed by Gov. Abdusakur Tan are standing firm on the government’s no ransom policy. The military official also denied that the Abu Sayyaf were asking for ransom in exchange for the release of Notter and Vagni. “They are not demanding ransom. That keeps us continuously puzzled, what they really want because up to now, they are not asking for any ransom," he said. - GMANews.TV