The supposed necessity to share ransom money with other Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) factions and civilian allies have prompted the bandit group to dramatically increase ransom demands for hostages and kidnap victims, according to reliable sources.
The other day, the ASG faction of Hatib Sawadjaan has released their demand for US$21 million (P1 billion) each for their three hostages – Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad who were abducted on September 21 at the Ocean View Resort in Barangay Camudmud, Babak District, in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte. The fourth hostage is a Filipina, Maritess Flor.
The ASG faction of Al-Habsie Misaya demanded an initial P1.2-billion ransom early this year for their two Malaysian hostages.
Misaya’s ASG faction, aided by the Muqtadir Brothers, abducted the two Malaysians from the Ocean King Seafood Restaurant on May 14 this year, Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, restaurant manager, and Bernard Then Ted Fen, 38, electrical consultant of the restaurant, about three kilometers from Sandakan town proper.
A very reliable source from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Sulu told the Manila Bulletin on Thursday the ASG bandits have to increase their ransom demand because of “tong-pats” (grease money) for some persons he did not identify.
The source, who requested anonymity, said the ASG also has to share their loot with other ASG factions to maintain their alliance, with armed civilians who are helping them keep watch over their hostages, buy provisions from the town, cook their food, act as lookouts or informants, among other assignments
“Many of our farmers on the island who have arms also flock to the Abu Sayyaf every time there are hostages, knowing they get a share from any ransom received,” the source said.
He said this practice of sharing the loot started more evidently during the ASG’s kidnapping on April 23, 2000, of 21 people, such as Malaysians, and tourists from Europe, South Africa, and Middle East, and a Filipino woman hotel worker from a resort on Sipadan island off Sabah.
He recalled the then Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Qaddafy reportedly paid US$25 million for the European hostages’ freedom.
For the two Malaysian hostages, the source said haggling with Misaya’s contacts in Sabah to lower their P1.2-billion ransom resulted in the lowering to P800 million, then to P500 million.
However, the source said his information showed the hostages’ relatives and friends can only afford 6 million Malaysian ringgit (about P78 million).
“The group of Al-Habsie Misaya already received one million ringgit (some P12 million) sometime in July 2015,” he said.
http://www.mb.com.ph/loot-sharing-linked-to-huge-sayyaf-ransom-demands/
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