Abus lower ransom demand for trader

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines – Abu Sayyaf militants have lowered their ransom demand for the release of a Filipino-Chinese businessman they have held captive for more than three months in the jungles of Basilan.

Basilan Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul, who chairs the crisis management committee, said the Abu Sayyaf group led by Puruji Indama decided to lower the ransom for businessman Largio de los Santos to P1 million two weeks ago after the victim’s relatives said they could not raise the P5 million demanded from them.

De los Santos, owner of Fonts Restaurant and Farmland Mountain Resort, was seized last Dec. 16 in Isabela City, Basilan.