Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen have demanded more than $60 million for two Canadians and a Norwegian they are holding in the jungles of the southern Philippines in the largest ransom the Muslim militants have sought.
Army Brigadier General Alan Arrojado said on Wednesday that the Philippine government maintained a no-ransom policy, adding there would be no let-up in efforts by his troops to secure the hostages’ freedom in the safest way possible.
Video circulating online
In the video, which was circulated online by the U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi websites, the kidnappers and their captives had said for the first time that the Abu Sayyaf was behind the September 21 kidnappings.
Abu Sayyaf has been blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization.
