Basilan kidnappers want P5M for one aid worker
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/09/2008 8:43 PM
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ZAMBOANGA CITY - Basilan Vice-Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul has confirmed that the kidnappers of aid workers Millet Mendoza and Esperancita Hupida are demanding a P5-million ransom. However, the ransom demand is only for Hupida.
According to Sakalahul, the abductors have yet to say how much they want as ransom for Mendoza's release.
Earlier, officials of the Nagdilaab Foundation, Inc. said, they will entrust the negotiation for the release of the victims to the crisis management committee of Basilan headed by Sakalahul.
Sakalahul, however, told ABS-CBN Zamboanga that the committee will abide by the government's "no ransom policy."
Meanwhile, newly installed Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindnaao police director Bensali Jabarani said he favors rescuing the two hostages, a move opposed by their families.
For now, authorities said they would heed the request of the victims' families.
As of posting time, the police and the military in the province said that intelligence operations are ongoing to gather more information on the conditions of the victims. Leila Vicente, ABS-CBN Zamboanga
