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| Down Under |
| Philippine ransom payment mystery causes concern |
| 2013-04-11 |
| The Philippine home of kidnapped Australian Warren Rodwell has not been sold, leading to questions about the source of a $94,600 ransom paid to Islamic terrorists for his release last month. Philippine President Benigno Aquino has ordered an investigation into the ransom payment, which military officials have warned will be used to fund more kidnappings and terrorist attacks. Miraflor Gutang, who married Mr Rodwell five months before he was kidnapped, has claimed she sold the house and other property to raise the ransom for an Abu Sayyaf kidnap gang. But days after the kidnapping on December 5, 2011, Ms Gutang told local reporters her family was poor and could not raise any ransom. When Mr Rodwell was released after almost 15 months, he rebuffed her attempts to see him and went from the southern Philippines to Manila to recuperate from the ordeal which left him frail and emaciated. Police involved in the case are refusing to discuss the source of the ransom money but other sources speculate the money came from Australia. |
| Posted by:ryuge |