No ransom for Burnhams — US

The US government may have vowed to use "every appropriate resource" to free an American couple from the Abu Sayyaf. But its vow does not include the payment of ransom.

US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly told President Arroyo over the weekend that there have been reports from international news agencies quoting the US government as expressing willingness to pay ransom for the release of Americans Martin and Gracia Burnham.

He said the reports were untrue.

According to National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, Kelly made clear that the recently issued US policy on American hostages was explicitly against the paying of ransom.

The policy, announced last week by US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher, said that the US government "will make no concessions to individuals or groups" holding American hostages. Although it said that the US will use all appropriate resources to free a hostage, it is their policy to deny hostage-takers the benefits of ransom and other concessions.

Golez noted that the new US policy was simply a statement of the US government’s unwavering stance against international terrorism.

"There are actually no policy changes. There are still no concessions to kidnappers. The only change probably is now they will review every instance of hostage-taking," he said.

Golez also said that the US, in issuing the policy, only wanted to reiterate its position not to take unilateral actions to free its citizens. "They will not do any unilateral act and will not do anything to violate our laws. They will never request the government to violate its own laws," he said.

The Burnhams have been in captivity since May last year when they were snatched, along with several local tourists, by Abu Sayyaf bandits from a beach resort in Palawan.

They are being held with another hostage, Ediborah Yap, a Filipina nurse, and the bandits have demanded $20 million for their release.

The government, however, has stood firm in its no-ransom policy and instead launched its now long-running rescue operation which has yet to bear fruit.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said Kelly assured Mrs. Arroyo the US government will not change its plans for the Balikatan exercises despite the crash of the US Chinook helicopter in Negros last Friday.

"The Balikatan’s Terms of Reference will be complied with. The President expressed condolences for the three sevicemen who were killed and in turn Kelly said he still hopes there will be survivors in the crash," Tiglao said.

Seven US servicemen on board the ill-fated chopper remain missing.