The company that owns the hijacked tugboat Brahma 12 has agreed to pay the 50-million-peso ($1 million) ransom demanded by the Philippine rebel group Abu Sayyaf for the release of 10 Indonesian crew-members who have been held hostage since March 26, a senior Indonesian official said.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said the rebel group had been in contact with the company, Patria Maritime Lines.
"It is agreed that [the company] will pay 50 million pesos, or the equivalent of Rp 14.3 billion, which will be handed over at a certain location," Luhut said on Tuesday (19/04), as quoted by Tempo.co.
The minister said the two sides will communicate again later this week to discuss further details.
The decision to pay the ransom comes despite the government's efforts to facilitate the hostages' release and to even prepare special forces for a strike on Abu Sayyaf.
The Al Qaeda-linked group, which is based on the island of Mindanao, hijacked the Indonesian-flagged tugboat and the barge Anand 12 while en route to the Philippines from Banjarmasin in East Kalimantan province. The barge was later found abandoned.
The Abu Sayyaf group is also believed to be behind the hijacking of two more Indonesian ships, the tugboat TB Henry and the barge Cristi on Friday last week. Another four Indonesian crew-members were kidnapped in the incident. Six other crewmembers on board the two ships were released.
Luhut said Indonesian authorities and their counterparts in the Philippines are still investigating the whereabouts of the four Indonesians kidnapped this weekend.
The Abu Sayyaf is notorious for kidnappings, beheadings, bombings and extortion. The group has also been a major influence on other terror groups in Southeast Asia, including those in Indonesia.
Related news: Ten Indonesians hijacked on ship in Philippine waters
Source: JakartaGlobe