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Manila: Kidnapped television journalist Ces Drilon, her cameraman and a guide may be released within the next few hours, Philippine police chief Avelino Razon said on Tuesday.
"We're hopeful that within the next few hours, or even within the day, the group of Ces Drilon would be released by the kidnappers," Razon told local television.
Earlier on Tuesday, the kidnappers extended "indefinitely" the deadline for the release of Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and professor Octavio Dinampo, who also served as their guide.
The kidnappers had set Tuesday as deadline for payment of a 15 million-peso ($337,200) ransom, but minutes before the deadline, the son of one of the negotiators relayed the captors' new demand.
Jun Isnaji, son of negotiator and Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, said the kidnappers have also assured them that they would not harm Drilon and company.
Isnaji said the captors did not discuss ransom during the negotiations but are now asking for livelihood projects in exchange for the release of the three.
The families of the kidnapped journalists appealed for their freedom on Monday.
"We're doing everything to get them free, but you must understand that we do have some limitations," Drilon's sister, Grech Orena, said over radio on the island of Jolo.
The teenage daughter of cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion also appealed for compassion.
"We need our father," Joy Encarnacion said in between sobs. "We don't know where to get money for our school."
The two were kidnapped over a week ago, along with another cameraman who was freed on Thursday. Their employer, ABS-CBN news network, said it would not pay ransom.
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