Magdalo solons seek probe into alleged P250-M ransom paid to Abu Sayyaf group

From GMA News (Nov 30): Magdalo solons seek probe into alleged P250-M ransom paid to Abu Sayyaf group

Magdalo party-list Reps. Gary Alejano and Francisco Ashley Acedillo have called for an immediate congressional inquiry into the alleged payment of a P250-million ransom to the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group for the release of their two German hostages last October.

“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,” Alejano and Acedillo said in filing House Resolution 1679.

The measure directs the appropriate House committee to investigate the reported ransom payment for the release of Dr. Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and Henrike Diesen, 55.

The two Germans were released by the Abu Sayyaf group on October 17 after being held for six months on a remote island south of Jolo in Mindanao. The Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group had earlier threatened to execute the foreigners if ransom money was not paid.

While German and Filipino authorities have refused to disclose whether a ransom was paid to secure the two hostages, the terrorist group reportedly uploaded a video online earlier this month showing its members posing with several stacks of P1,000 bills.

In the video, Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Rami claimed the money on display in a jungle setting was the full P250 million ($5.7 million) they demanded for the release of the captives.

The Magdalo party-list lawmakers said that if the ransom payment to the Abu Sayyaf indeed took place, it would leave a paper trail involving Philippine banks that facilitated the transfer of huge amounts of money.

They added that the release and transportation of large sums of money should alert the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and other agencies of the Philippine government, which may be in a position to look into such transfers.

“The payment of hundreds of millions of pesos to the said terrorist group will not only motivate them to kidnap more foreigners but 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,” the lawmakers said.

Alejano and Acedillo urged Congress to probe the reports of  ransom payments to the Abu Sayyaf to protect national and public interest.

“There is an urgent need to ascertain the truth to these allegations vis-à-vis government’s ‘no-ransom policy,’ so that the safety of the public – including local and foreign tourists – are assured and that government is able to protect its soldiers and law enforcers as well,” they said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/390444/news/nation/magdalo-solons-seek-probe-into-alleged-p250-m-ransom-paid-to-abu-sayyaf-group