Probe sought on Abu ransom for Germans

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago yesterday called for an investigation into the video supposedly uploaded by the Abu Sayyaf showing the P250-million ransom received by the bandits last month in exchange for the freedom of a German couple held captive.

Santiago filed Senate Resolution 1023 seeking a congressional probe into the payment of ransom money to the Abu Sayyaf in exchange for the release of German couple Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen.

“Congress should investigate adherence to the no-ransom policy, which is important in curbing kidnapping activities,” Santiago said.

The Germans were seized from a yacht in the high seas between Palawan and Malaysia last April.

They were released last month after the supposed payment of ransom.

Abu Sayyaf spokesman Muamar Askali released a video clip showing what they claimed to be the P250-million ransom paid to them in exchange for the freedom of the two German captives.

Askali, alias Abu Rami, posted on Facebook a video clip of the ransom money in an effort to dispute reports that no ransom was paid when they freed the German couple last Oct. 17.

The video showed the Abu Sayyaf piling bundles of P1,000 bills in five stacks, neatly wrapped with transparent plastic, each stack estimated to be P1 million. The money was placed on top of a large black plastic bag.

The video clip that ran for two minutes and 57 seconds also showed the militants standing around the money bag with a black flag of the Islamic State in the background.

Askali also showed a picture of one of the blue traveling bags used to conceal the ransom money.

The reports were contrary to the official statement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that the relentless pursuit of the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and Sulu pressured the bandits to release their captives, Santiago noted.