Govt rejects ransom demand for abducted aid workers in Basilan
Posted at 09/20/2008 6:30 PM | Updated as of 09/20/2008 7:30 PM
The Philippines on Saturday rejected paying a ransom to free two female aid workers abducted by Islamic militants on the southern island of Basilan.
"Government maintains its no ransom policy," presidential spokesman Jesus Dureza said in a statement, adding that all effort was being made to free the female captives from their Abu Sayyaf captors.
"The two ladies who are still in the custody of those brigands do not deserve this fate," Dureza said.
Esperanza Hupida and Millet Mendoza were among five aid workers for Christian Children's Fund seized by Abu Sayyaf militants last week. Three were released earlier.
The Abu Sayyaf is a small band of Islamic militants that foreign and Filipino intelligence officials say once received funding from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network.
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