AFP: No ransom paid for Hyrons couple
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2019 08:58:13 +0000
Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson, revealed that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) demanded ransom money for the release of British businessman Allan Hyrons and his Filipina wife, Wilma, but the troops did not give in to their demands.
This was confirmed by Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana of the Western Mindanao Command.
Sobejana said the ASG initially asked for a P50-million ransom money which was later reduced to P10 million.
“But no ransom was paid at all because the directive of the President was clear (not to pay ransom) and that is also the policy of the British government,” Sobejana explained.
“We just worked hard on our sustained and relentless search and rescue operations,” he added.
The Hyrons couple were already turned over by the military to the British Embassy around 10 p.m. on Monday.
They were escorted by Sobejana, Arevalo, and other top military officials when they arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City and met with British Ambassador Daniel Pruce.
Sobejana revealed that the Hyrons couple, especially Wilma, were still in a state of shock as they were subjected to psychological torture.
“They were told that
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