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Manila: The government on Monday offered a 1 million pesos (Dh90,909) reward for the arrest of two kidnappers of a television reporter, a cameraman, and a peace advocate in the south, police said.
But the abductors have set a deadline for today for paying 41 million ransom.
The ultimatum came after troops shelled a forested area on the southern island of Jolo where the extremists are holding the three, injuring a woman living in the area, officials said.
ABS-CBN television journalist Ces Drilon, her cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and university professor Octavio Dinampo were heading to a secret meeting with a senior Abu Sayyaf leader when they were seized.
The abductors freed Valderama on June 12 after a ransom of 100,000 pesos was paid.
Chief Superintendent Hadji Sukarno Ikbala, chief of the Police Community Relations Group, offered 500,000 pesos for the arrest of each of the two leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who were identified as Sulayman Patta, also known as Amah Ma'as and Abu Haris; and Walid alias Tuan Wals.
Meanwhile, Mayor Alvarez Isnaji of Indanan town, Sulu, gave the ASG kidnappers an ultimatum to release the captives by 8:30am on Tuesday.
Family to pay
"Ces also called me up and told me that the kidnappers set an ultimatum [for the payment of ransom] at Tuesday noon," said Isnaji, adding, "At the same time, the kidnappers also told me that they were able to talk to the family members of Ces who have agreed to pay 15 million pesos ransom."
The money will be brought to the kidnappers by a representative of the Drilon family, Isnaji said, adding, "I cannot do anything now. Her parents want to pay the ransom money."
The 15 million will be for the release of the three hostages, said Isnaji. "Ces pleaded for help. She wanted us to look for ways for her fast release," said Isnaji.
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