The Philippine National Police (PNP) is looking at a splinter faction of the Abu Sayyaff Group as behind the abduction of two policewomen-on-leave in Patikul, Sulu on Sunday.
In a press conference聽on Wednesday, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the suspected perpetrators were 鈥渁ffiliated with the ASG; a group composed of children of ASG that fell casualty to police and military operations.鈥
The group, Albayalde said, had demanded a ransom of P5 million for the release of the policewomen, from police and local government negotiators, though Albayalde maintained 鈥渨e will not give in to these kinds of demands that we consider terrorist activities.鈥
Negotiations and pursuit operations were ongoing, Albayalde said, but at the very least, 鈥渢here is proof of life as of this morning, according to the [police] regional director.鈥澛With reports from Jasmin Salvacion