The military in Basilan will temporarily suspend its manhunt for the bandits holding captive two female aid workers.

The military said the Marines will temporarily halt its rescue operations to give way to negotiations for the release of kidnap victims Esperancita Hupida and Millet Mendoza.

Hupida is the executive program director of Nagdilaab Foundation Incorporated (NFI), a non-government organization (NGO) focusing on peace and development initiatives in Basilan. Mendoza, on the other hand, is a member of the NGO.

The two kidnap victims were among the five aid workers who were abducted in Barangay Cabangalan, Tipo-Tipo town.

The aid workers were on their way to Isabela City, reports said.

The five, who worked for a group funded by a Malaysian charity, were abducted in an area known as a hotbed of the Abu Sayyaf, which the military says has ties to Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network.

On Monday the kidnappers released three abducted aid workers "without paying ransom." Authorities said the three were released in Al-Barka town through the efforts of Tipo-Tipo Mayor Tong Istarul.

NFI chairman Fr. Angel Calvo appealed to the abductors to free Hupida and Mendoza for humanitarian considerations and in deference to the observance of the holy month of Ramadan.

Calvo said the abductors have not yet contacted the group.

Calvo, meanwhile, thanked a number of Christian and Muslim peace advocacy groups that have voluntary extended their help in the rescue efforts.  David Santos, ABS-CBN Zamboanga