A Malacañang official assured the families of the six kidnapped teachers in Zamboanga that the government is giving as much attention to their cases as the three kidnapped members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"Our government and police and military authorities are giving the hostaged teachers' case as much attention," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in a statement released Wednesday.

Remonde's made the statement after the families of the six kidnapped teachers said they fear the government is not giving much effort to rescue their relatives because it is too busy working for the release of ICRC workers Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni, and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba.

The press secretary said the government is giving "the same degree of attention and concern" to all the kidnapping cases in Mindanao.

Teachers Naomi Pandi, Jocelyn Enriquez and Jocelyn Inion were abducted by bandits while on their way home from Bangkaw-Bangkaw Elementary School in Zamboanga Sibugay last March 13.

There were earlier reports that Pandi had already died in captivity, but the Zamboanga Sibugay Crisis Management Committee came up with a statement, claiming they have received a proof of life from the teachers' kidnappers.

The kidnappers have reportedly asked for P10-million ransom, but later lowered it to P5 million.

Early this year, bandits also kidnapped Rafael Mayonado, Janette de los Reyes and Freires Quizon, at sea while they were travelling by boat from Sacol Island, Zamboanga City. The three were on their way home from Landang Gua village.

Police believe that the teachers have been brought by the kidnappers to Basilan.

Aside from the kidnapping cases of the teachers and the ICRC workers, bandits also snatched three employee of a financing firm in Basilan. One of the victims was able to escape the abductors.