June 5, 2001, Inquirer News Service, Romero kin paid P10M,says Basilan governor, by Dona Pazzibugan and Carlito Pablo,

June 5, 2001, Inquirer News Service, Romero kin paid P10M,says Basilan governor, by Dona Pazzibugan and Carlito Pablo,

THE FAMILY of businessman Reghis Romero II paid his Abu Sayyaf captors at least P10 million in ransom, but this was done without the knowledge of the government, Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar told reporters in Manila yesterday. 

Akbar said the ransom was paid a day before the military engaged the Abu Sayyaf bandits in a fierce firefight in the municipality of Lamitan last Saturday. He said the Abu Sayyaf released Romero during that firefight to hide the fact that they earned a lot of money. 

Reacting to Akbar’s claim, President Macapagal-Arroyo said news reports had already quoted Romero’s family as having denied paying any ransom. 

Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan maintained that as far as the military knew, Romero escaped from his captors. 

"What we know was that Mr. Romero, at the height of the fighting in Basilan, was able to run away from the hospital, dragging with him the 8-year-old boy and one woman," Adan said. 

"We are not privy to such talks of negotiation, if any," he added. 

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes admitted having received reports that some individuals were trying to make contact with the Abu Sayyaf. 

"There are definitely reports that individuals are trying to establish channels with the Abu Sayyaf to try for the negotiated release of some of the hostages," Reyes said. 

"We are, of course, monitoring this, but we have no definite information as to its veracity," he added. 

Not sanctioned

Akbar refused to identify who negotiated for Romero’s release and would only say that the person was acting purely on behalf of Romero’s family. He stressed the negotiation was not sanctioned by either the government or the military. 

He said he knew about the ransom payment because some of his men had penetrated the Abu Sayyaf’s ranks. 

Akbar said Romero’s escape was "just for show" so the military would not know that the Abu Sayyaf received money. 

"We learned that (the Abu Sayyaf got) P10 million. They got money so they’re happy," Akbar said during a news forum at the L’eau Vive restaurant in Manila. 

Akbar claimed the two other captives (Maria Rizza Santos and RJ Recio) who were rescued with Romero last June 2 were released "for free." 

Romero, the former Manila Times owner, chairs R-II Builders, the contractor for the Smokey Mountain rehabilitation project. 

He repeatedly thanked the military for his rescue. 

"I credit my freedom and that of my three fellow hostages to the full-scale campaign launched by President Macapagal against the Abu Sayyaf and her policy to deny ransom to the dreaded terrorists," Romero said when he was presented to the President in Makati after his release.

Up to P25 million

The governor believes that Romero’s family paid more than P10 million and that the family’s negotiator probably pocketed part of the supposed ransom. But he admitted that he had no concrete basis for his accusations against the negotiator. 

"The rumor is (that the actual ransom paid was) P25 million. But we learned (that the Abu Sayyaf got) P10 million. This means the negotiator got half of the money," he said. 

He claimed that an intermediary for the family had earlier approached him to negotiate for Romero’s release. 

But he turned down the request because he was strongly against paying any ransom to the Abu Sayyaf. 

"The Palace intermediary or the military has nothing to do with this. It was the family who worked on this. The local government unit and the military were not involved," Akbar insisted. 

Akbar said he did not know if there were similar ransom negotiations for the other captives. 

"But according to the reports of my people who are inside, there will be additional money," he said. 

Asked if the negotiator was among those who played a role in the Sipadan hostage negotiations last year, Akbar replied: "This is totally new." 

Then he asked reporters not to ask him any more questions: "Even if you cut off my tongue I won’t reveal who it was." 

William Castillo

AFP spokesperson Adan said the government intermediary is already making contact with the Abu Sayyaf rebels, but he stressed that the negotiation is not for the ransom of the hostages. 

"The idea is to convince them to release the hostages," Adan said. 

Presidential spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao yesterday identified the Palace-appointed intermediary as William Castillo, who, he said, was familiar with the Abu Sayyaf. 

"He has been in touch with the Abu Sayyaf leaders and the group knows him," Tiglao said. 

Adan stressed that the talks should not be regarded as a softening of the government’s no-negotiation policy with the Abu Sayyaf. 

"Fighting is part of the negotiations. Without fighting, the other party may not be able to negotiate," he said. 
"The strategy is to apply military pressure and at the same time communicate with them," he added. --With a report from Martin Marfil