‘Ransom? Ask the Germans’

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino played coy yesterday on the alleged P250-million ransom paid for the release of two Germans held captive by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

“You should ask the people who negotiated rather than me. And in this particular case, the Germans were the ones who were negotiating,” Aquino told a member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines during a forum at Marco Polo Hotel in Pasig City.

Aquino was asked to confirm or deny if ransom was indeed paid for the release of the hostages, and from where the money was sourced. He earlier denied that he authorized the release of funds for the foreigners’ freedom.

He said the government’s focus was to save the Germans from threats of being beheaded.

There have been reports that two foreign nationals escorted the money contained in several black bags unloaded from a private plane that landed in Zamboanga City, as per the account of one official who refused to be quoted.

“I also had to talk to the German ambassador to show them that we were exerting effort to ensure the safe recovery of their citizens,” Aquino said.

Also yesterday, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces said there are about 200 members of the Abu Sayyaf – the auxiliary included – but this reaches a total of 400 armed men if “relatives and supporters” are factored in.

Aquino also said putting an end to the banditry of the Abu Sayyaf would necessarily entail improvements in the way the local government is being run, like lifting residents in Mindanao from poverty.

“If there is intense poverty, there is no hope for them and you will have suffering and more suffering from their perspective. That’s how they are being recruited,” Aquino said.

“We will try to change the status quo to get them to buy into the system and be partners in development rather than people who stifle the development activities in the area,” he said.