Gov’t verifying P500-M ransom demand for Chinese

MANILA, Philippines - Reports that kidnappers are demanding a P500-million ransom for a Chinese woman snatched in a resort off Semporna in Sabah have not been confirmed, Malacañang said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Malacañang continues to receive updates from the Philippine National Police, and that they are awaiting more concrete information about the reported ransom demand. “They are doing everything that is possible in order to track the perpetrators and to rescue the abducted persons. So as often as they are able to give update, we inform our people and our media about this,” he said.

Reports said the ransom demand did not include the Filipina resort worker who was also taken on April 2.

Authorities believe the two  women were taken to the island of Simunul in Tawi-Tawi, which is a short boat ride from Sabah.