ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- Kidnappers of Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Maria Rosalie Lao, who was abducted in Jolo, Sulu last month, are demanding a P2-million ransom, police said Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, police chief for Sulu, in a telephone interview said he received intelligence information that the kidnappers have sent a demand letter to the Lao family.

But Kasim lamented that the victim's family refused to cooperate with local authorities, and instead tapped a Jolo vice mayor Edsel Tan as negotiator.

Jolo mayor Hussin Amin confirmed that Tan was working for the safe release of the victim, who was abducted on January 28.

"I don't want to meddle with what the vice mayor is doing," Amin said.