| NO-RANSOM
POLICY FOR HOSTAGES STAYS, PALACE INSISTS THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cannot stop foreign
governments from paying ransom for the release of their nationals being held hostage by
Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Sulu, according to Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr.
While insisting that the Estrada administration policy of "no ransom" still
stands, he nevertheless admitted: "We cannot stop them (foreign governments) from
paying ransom. That's a determination that has to be made by those governments because the
kidnappers have their nationals as hostages.
Siazon told reporters that the DFA already informed the foreign governments whose
nationals are held by the terrorists about President Estrada's no-ransom policy.
The terrorists are holding mostly foreign hostages consisting of two Germans, two Finns,
three French, two South Africans, nine Malaysians and one Lebanese as well as two
Filipinos.
The terrorists kidnapped them from the Malaysian dive resort island of Sipadan off Sabah
on Easter Sunday and brought them to Jolo, Sulu, about an hour away by boat.
"I just have to believe what Germany, Malaysia and Finland said. They indicated
clearly a no-ransom policy. But if they wanted to pay ransom, then what can I do. These
are foreign governments; we can't impose our (no ransom) stand," Siazon admitted.
In Malacañang, Press Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the government supports the decision of
the negotiating panel to suspend the delivery of foods and medicine until the terrorists
reveal where the hostages are being kept.
"We know they are in Talipao but that is a big area," Puno said. "But if
you don't know where the hostages are, you may just wind up feeding the entire Abu Sayyaf
contingent. So they may end up very healthy and very rosy cheeks.
Earlier, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora insisted that the government is not backing
out from its "no ransom" policy regarding hostage-takers.
Zamora made the clarification following reports that he had confirmed that the Abu Sayyaf
terrorists have demanded a $l-million ransom each for the mostly foreign 2l hostages they
have been keeping in their forested lair on Sulu Island.
The Palace official was quoted as saying in a radio interview Monday that while the
government and terrorists have been discussing their political demands, including a
separate Islamic state in Mindanao, they eventually have to haggle over ransom.
He admitted that President Estrada asked him yesterday whether he really confirmed reports
of the terrorists' demand for a $l-million ransom each for the hostages kidnapped from the
Malaysian island dive resort of Sipadan off Sabah last April 23.
--Joel San Juan and Faber Concepcion
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