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Manila hints at ransom approval

By Hugh Riminton
CNN

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MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- The Philippine government strongly hinted Friday it would approve the payment of ransoms to win the freedom of 26 Filipino hostages missing or kidnapped in Nigeria.

"Whatever it takes ... we will go along with it," Esteban Conejos, undersecretary for migrant workers' affairs, told reporters in Manila Friday. He stressed the negotiations were being handled by Nigeria, and "we have never had any reason not to trust the Nigerian government."

CNN this past week aired video of 24 Filipino seamen who were abducted from the German-owned freighter Baco Liner II on January 20. The video showed dozens of militants, dressed in black and wearing black ski masks, dancing around the hostages and firing automatic weapons into the air. The story has been running prominently on Philippine media.

Conejos said he was in personal contact with the families of all 24 men, although they naturally would be alarmed by the CNN video. The families are deeply anxious, he said, but also "hopeful and prayerful."

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for the mass abduction. The militia is seeking more returns for impoverished villagers from the vast oil wealth of the Delta region. Increasingly, brazen rebel attacks have disrupted oil production to the tune of billions of dollars over the past year.

Since late 2005, MEND militants have carried out numerous attacks on Nigeria's oil sector and abducted dozens of foreign workers. Nearly all of them have been released unharmed.

In addition to the 24 captured seamen, a Filipino engineer and the Filipino wife of an Iranian construction executive were abducted in separate incidents last week.

Jane Gregorio, the sister of the abducted woman, Josie Beth Foroozan, 37, told CNN Foroozan managed to alert her husband in a cell phone call before being cut off. The husband was later contacted on the same number by a man who claimed Foroozan had drowned after jumping from a boat in an escape attempt, Gregorio said. There has been no independent confirmation of that account.

Conejos said Philippine authorities believe Foroozan was kidnapped by a criminal group separate from the Delta rebels. Two citizens of Italy and citizens of Lebanon, the United States and France are also currently believed held by Niger Delta gangs.

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