Sayyaf demands P5 M for kidnapped workers

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Abu Sayyaf gunmen who abducted seven workers in Sulu on Monday have demanded P5 million in exchange for their release, officials disclosed yesterday.

The bandit group led by Albader Parad reportedly relayed the ransom demand through text messages circulating in Jolo, according to Sulu police provincial director Senior Superintendent Ahirun Ajirim.

Ajirim said they are now verifying the reported ransom demand.

Sulu Gov. Benjamin Loong also said there are rumors circulating of a ransom demand but could not confirm if they are true.

Loong, however, made an appeal for the freedom of the hostages, pointing out the seven are just lowly workers whose families cannot afford to pay up the ransom even collectively.

"The victims are poor people who are just trying to earn a living. I hope their abductors would considered that for their safe release," Loong said.

Six of those abducted are construction workers of a government road project in Parang, Sulu while the seventh is a dried fish factory worker.

Police said a group of gunmen led by Parad snatched the seven men separately in Parang last Monday.

The gunmen abducted a dried fish factory worker in a passenger jeep along the national road in Barangay Silangkan while the six others were snatched while hitching a ride on a dump truck on their way home near Parang.

Police initially identified the six construction workers as Dennis delos Reyes, Luie Teodoro, Nonoy Ampoy, Wilmer Santos, Roger Francisco and a certain Toto Milas, who are residents of Zamboanga City and hired to work for a road project in Sulu. The seventh captive has yet to be identified.

Police said they have initial reports that the captives were held by Parad’s group in the mountains of Indanan.