Abu wants to talk, says peace adviser

Members of the extremist group Abu Sayyaf. Photograph: Rey Bayoging/Associated Press

THE ABU Sayyaf “called and they want to talk,” presidential peace adviser Secretary Jesus Dureza said on Sunday, “but paying ransom is out of the question.”

Dureza maintained the government will not entertain any demand for ransom for the release of the Abu Sayyaf’s hostages.

“I have relayed to them my openness to talk to them in an effort to save the life of the Norwegian,” Dureza said, referring to hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad who remains in Abu hands after his co-captives, Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel, were killed  and Hall’s Filipino fiancee, Maritess Flores, was freed.

As to the seven Indonesian nationals recently kidnapped, Dureza said: “We will try to work for the release of all if possible. But we will not entertain talk of ransom.”

Dureza said the terror group’s spokesperson, Abu Rami, told a female emissary from Zamboanga City he wanted to talk to the government peace adviser.

Dureza said he spoke to the emissary on Sunday “and told her I was willing to receive his phone call anytime.”

“But I made it clear that discussing ransom is out of the question. She told me he wanted to take up other matters. I agreed,” Dureza said. Marlon Ramos