The military on Thursday reiterated its opposition to payment of ransom for the release of Italian Eugenio Vagni, a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross who remains in the hands of Abu Sayyaf extremists in Sulu.

Navy spokesman and concurrent military spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo made the remarks after a revelation by Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Philippine National Red Cross, that the kidnappers are asking a “ridiculous amount” for Vagni’s freedom.

Gordon did not say the exact amount of the ransom demanded by the bandits who abducted the ailing Vagni and two other ICRC workers last January 15 in Patikul town. Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba was released April 2 while Swiss Andreas Notter escaped.

Arevalo said the military has not received information that the bandits are indeed demanding ransom, except from unofficial sources. “We have no information that they are asking for ransom. If and when there is, our position is not to pay ransom,” he said.

“If you are to ask the members of the security forces if ransom should be paid, the answer should be no. We vehemently object to the idea of payment of ransom because of the reason that if we pay ransom, we give them the idea that there is money in kidnapping,” he said.

Arevalo said paying ransom will also convince the bandits to concentrate on carrying out more kidnappings. “We are going to teach them to be criminals,” the official said.

He said ransom money given to bandits such as the Abu Sayyaf would be used to buy firearms and ammunition. "Where they going to use it? Part of the firearms and ammunition they will fire on the soldiers will come from ransom that we are going to pay."