The Philippine government today reiterated that it will continue to observe its “no ransom policy” in handling kidnapping cases, reports China’s Xinhua news agency.

“The (Philippine government’s) policy against paying ransom stands,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

Valte also said the operation launched by the military in the southern Philippines to rescue the two victims who were abducted from Sabah, Malaysia is ongoing.

Malaysian Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that the kidnappers, whom he said came from southern Philippines, had demanded a ransom of 500 million pesos (RM36.4 million) in exchange for the release of the China national tourist.

The Chinese tourist and Filipina resort worker Marcy Dayawan were forcibly taken from the Singamata Reef Resort in the eastern part of Sabah on April 2.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said earlier that the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf was behind the kidnapping.

- Bernama