A senior Philippine official confirmed yesterday that Muslim rebels were demanding a ransom of $1 million for each of the 21 mostly foreign hostages they are holding on southern Jolo island.
The presidential executive secretary, Mr Ronaldo Zamora, said the government was sticking to its no-ransom policy in its efforts to win the release of the hostages after nearly two months of captivity by the Abu Sayyaf rebels.
"You may have heard that they are asking for one million dollars per hostage. It is true that that is what they are asking," Mr Zamora said.
On Jolo, a local official said the rebels had reassembled their 21 captives in one place in the jungle more than a week after splitting them into two groups due to fears of a military rescue operation.
The official said the guerrillas brought the hostages together again apparently in anticipation of a resumption of talks, possibly later this week, with government negotiators who might demand to see them.
The chief government negotiator and presidential adviser, Mr Roberto Aventajado, said on Sunday that the release at the weekend of five Filipino schoolchildren held by the rebels for three months was a good sign for the foreign captives.
"I am very optimistic," Mr Aventajado said when asked about the chances of securing the freedom of the nine Malaysians, three Germans, two French, two South Africans, two Finns, one Lebanese, and two other Filipino hostages.
They were seized from a Malaysian diving resort on April 23rd and taken to Jolo island in the Philippines' far south, 960 km from Manila.