No ransom to be paid for Samal kidnap victims — PNP

SCREENGRAB from SITE video.

The Philippine National Police maintained that the government will not give the P4-billion ransom the Abu Sayyaf is demanding for the release of four Samal Island hostages — three foreigners and a Filipina.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said on Wednesday that this was in adherence to the government’s no-ransom policy.

“The PNP adheres to the principle of no-ransom policy. Rest assured that the operations of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are continuing to ensure their safety. That is the primordial concern of the PNP and the AFP,” Mayor said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

He said the video was being studied by the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group.

In a video released on Tuesday, Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Filipino Marites Flor and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad surrounded by armed men. Behind them was an ISIS flag.

In the video, Ridsdel said they were “being ransomed for each for P1 billion” while one of the bandits pointed a machete above his neck.

The hostages appealed to the government to pay the ransom as soon as possible as the Abu Sayyaf were “serious and very treacherous.”

The armed men threatened to kill the victims if no ransom would be given.

Mayor declined to provide further details as giving tactical matters would compromise the sensitivity of the operation.

“Remember that lives are at stake here so between life and information, siguro unahin natin ang buhay ng tao,” he said.

But he said the Anti-Kidnapping Group of the PNP, local police and the military were doing their best to locate the hostages.