Lawmakers seek probe of P250-M ransom paid to Abu Sayyaf

MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers from the Magdalo party-list are calling for an immediate congressional inquiry into the alleged payment of P250-million ransom to the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group for the release of their German hostages.

“If the payment is indeed true, it has set a terribly troubling precedent that will only serve to encourage the Abu Sayyaf and other kidnap-for-ransom groups to engage in such activities, especially those targeting foreigners,” Magdalo party-list Reps. Gary Alejano and Ashley Acedillo said.

“The payment of hundreds of millions of pesos to the terrorist group will also allow them to utilize such big funds to procure more firearms and weapons to the detriment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and law enforcement agencies,” they added.

The lawmakers filed House Resolution 1679 directing the appropriate House committee to investigate, in aid of legislation, the reported ransom payment for the release of Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and Henrike Dielen, 55 years old.

The two Germans were traveling within Philippine waters last April in a private yacht when they were abducted by the terrorist group. They were held captive for six months and were then scheduled to be executed last October if ransom money was not paid.

The Philippine government denied that payment of ransom money was involved to secure the release of the two Germans.

But in November, the terrorist group uploaded a video on the Internet reportedly showing them arranging and counting a big stash of money. It was also visible in the video that the stash of money was composed of bundles of P1,000 bills.

“Such payment, if true, means that P1,000 bills will leave a paper trail involving Philippine banks that facilitated the transfer of such huge amounts of money,” the lawmakers said.

The lawmakers noted that the release and transportation of such huge amounts of cash should cause the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and other relevant agencies of the government to look into such transfers.