RI not helping search for hostages: RP

RI not helping search for hostages: RP

PHILIPPINES: Indonesian officials are not working with the Philippine military in the hunt for three Indonesian seamen kidnapped by suspected Al-Qaeda-linked militants, a top Philippine army officer said in Jolo on Saturday.

"We have not received any reports from the Indonesian consulate.... They are not coordinating with us, but this does not stop us from our operation to safely recover the hostages," said Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza.

The three Indonesians -- Ahmad Resmiyadi, Yamin Labaso and Erikson Hutagaol -- were seized in March after their boat was attacked off Malaysia's Sabah region by a group calling itself the Jamiat al-Islamiah of Southern Mindanao.

They were thought to be held somewhere in the southern Philippine province of Tawi Tawi, and police and military officials now believe they were seized by the Abu Sayyaf kidnap gang.

"We are doing everything to trace their whereabouts. We have recovered one speedboat of the Abu Sayyaf and several weapons -- that's the latest we have on the operation against the kidnappers," Braganza said.

Earlier this week, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked Philippine President Gloria Arroyo for help in rescuing the three hostages, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said.

Hassan also said the captors had demanded a Rp 7.5 billion (US$790,000) ransom from the hostages' employer. -- AFP