ZAMBOANGA CITY?The Abu Sayyaf in Basilan has denied involvement in the Nov. 11 kidnapping of two Chinese nationals and a Filipino from the High Tech Woodcraft Industry Corp. in Maluso town.

Basilan Vice Gov. Al Rasheed Sakalahul, who also heads the Crisis Management Committee, said he sent emissaries to several Abu Sayyaf leaders in the province, including Puruji Indama, to verify information that it was not the Abu Sayyaf that took the victims.

Sakalahul said on Thursday he received two calls from two different persons who claimed they were ordered by the kidnappers of Michael Tan, 27, Oscar Tan Lu, 51 and Marquez Singson to do so.

The callers, he said, had aired different demands.

Sakalahul said the first caller demanded P6 million for the release of the captives while another caller wanted P10 million.

?Both callers claimed they were just ordered by the kidnappers and that they are not party to the kidnapping and they also relayed that the Abu Sayyaf is not responsible for the kidnapping,? he said.

But Sakalahul said the denial was unusual and that the police were firm in their belief that Indama was behind the abduction.

?We have witnesses and artist sketches, besides we have arrested a suspect,? said Senior Supt. Abubakar Tulawie, Basilan police chief.

Sakalahul said he told the callers to present ?proof of life and put into writing their demands if indeed the captives are in their custody.?

Police were aware of the calls, said Director Felizardo Serapio Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao?s directorate for integrated police operations. Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao