Manila -
The president of the Philippines denied any knowledge on Monday of a reported multimillion-dollar ransom payment in exchange for two German hostages held by terrorists.
“Well, nothing came from the Office of the President. I can assure you that,” President Benigno Aquino III said.
“I didn't authorise anything from the Office of the President.”
The president said government forces have been focused on pursuing the Abu Sayyaf rebels “rather than offering ransom.”
An Abu Sayyaf leader claimed that the group released the two hostages last week after receiving 5.6 million dollars in ransom.
The two Germans were abducted in April while sailing a yacht off Palawan, en route to Borneo. - Sapa-dpa