THE government is sticking to its policy of not giving ransom for hostages, but clarified that they are not preventing foreign governments to negotiate for their citizens kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf group.

"The [Philippine] government has also a no-ransom policy, right?... [So] we don't encourage [but] if they make negotiations, that is their negotiation," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing.

Abella made the statement following President Rodrigo Duterte's confirmation that the Abu Sayyaf had received P50 million for the release of Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad.

The Presidential spokesperson, however, clarified that the ransom did not come from the Philippine government.

"I'm not privy to that. But it was, I think it was also raised by third parties," Abella said. "[The ransom is] not from the government."

Abella said the government forces are now "working quietly" to rescue Sekkingstad.

"I think they are working quietly," he said.

Following the beheading of 18-year-olf Filipino hostage Patrick Almodovar, Duterte had reiterated his call to detroy Abu Sayyaf.

"My order to the police and to the armed forces against all enemies of this state [is to] seek out, seek them out... Destroy them. The Abu Sayyaf, destroy them. Period," the President said. (Sunnex)