In a two-page letter written in English and Filipino, Benito Chua said they had to do what they could "to make Lalaine come back to us."
"Even if we knew the go-vernment was against paying ransom, we couldn’t let her stay there. As a parent, the President should understand what we went through," Chua said.
The 15-year-old Lalaine was among 20 people snatched by Abu Sayyaf bandits from the upscale resort island of Dos Palmas in Pa-lawan last May 27. She was freed on July 3 near the village of Colonia in Lamitan town in Basilan after her family allegedly paid P6 million to the kidnappers.
Chua, who has an auto parts business, said he had to sell several pieces of property, including a shop in Caloocan City, just to raise the money.
"We had to sell our business so we could see our daughter again," he said in his letter, which was sent to the Office of the President through the Presidential Security Group last Wednesday.
At the same time, the elder Chua expressed gratitude to Mrs. Arroyo for her administration’s effort to rescue the hostages.
"We suffered 37 days, surviving many negotiations, financial demands and even the jungles of Basilan. Thank God, Lalaine is home. Thank you, Madam President for your help," Chua said.
He also praised the police and military for their sacrifice and paid tribute to troopers killed and injured in the operations.
"My family is very grateful for their help. They helped us quietly, but should be commended for serving us and helping rescue the hostages," Chua said in the final part of the letter.
Meanwhile, sources said the Chuas were forced to submit to the demands of the Abu Sayyaf after other hostages were released ahead of Lalaine.
"They feared that their youngest child, an only daughter, would be left alone with the bandits, They had to act fast and raise the money, even asking dole-outs from relatives," said one source privy to the negotiations.
The source claimed that only half of the P6-million ransom was received by Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya, saying middlemen, including one working on behalf of the victim, pocketed the rest of the money.