Albayalde: Gov’t did not pay any ransom for two cops abducted in Zamboanga

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde maintained on Thursday that the government did not pay any ransom for the release of two policewomen abducted in Zamboanga.

“We really cannot say kung talagang, sinasabi ng iba, kung may ibinayad bang ransom ba or not pero as far as the PNP is concerned wala kaming binayad na ransom dyan,” Albayalde said in a press briefing at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan.

(We really cannot say if ransom was really paid or not but as far as the PNP is concerned, we did not pay any ransom.)

Police Officer (PO) 2 Benierose Alvarez and PO1 Dinah Gumahad were kidnapped in Patikul, Sulu on April 29 by 11 armed men believed to be members of an Abu Sayyaf splinter group led by a certain Mujir Yada.

Albayalde said the intensified military and police operations as well as the efforts of the local government pressured the abductors to release them.

“Ang [Armed Forces of the Philippines] kasi ang participation niyan is the military operations. That is part or the reason kung bakit napressure yan marelease because of the relentless military and police operations on the ground,” he said.

The policewomen are currently in the custody of the local government and are set to undergo debriefing and medical treatment, Albayalde said. /vvp