P30M ransom asked for freedom of 2 women

Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines, photographed in 2000. (Photo : History Commons)

MANILA — Suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) demanded P30 million ransom for the release of a Chinese businesswoman and daughter who were abducted last week.

Police authorities said that the two victims, Dina Lim Eraham, 45, and her 19-year-old daughter Yahong Lim Tan, were taken from their karaoke house on Thursday night by gunmen wearing camouflage uniforms.

The ransom demand was relayed to the son of the victims on Saturday morning through a cellular phone call by Dina Lim.

However, the details of the deadline of ransom payment and the exchange and release of the victims were not specified by the kidnappers.

The police said they have formed Task Force Dalby to conduct safe rescue operation for the two Chinese women.

The task force is now investigating the crime, which happened less than two months after a school principal was also abducted and freed by Abu Sayyaf members operating in Sumisip, Basilan.