Kidnapping for ransom is so common here that the Philippines has often been described as the kidnapping capital of the world.

Often the abductions are carried out by armed men who say they are Muslim separatist rebels.


The Abu Sayyaf makes an industry out of kidnapping

For more than three decades, guerrillas belonging to the Muslim minority have been fighting for independence for their homeland in the south of this predominantly Christian country.

But when such groups embark on a kidnapping spree their motives are not necessarily political.

A lucrative business

The government is trying to revive peace talks with the main Muslim separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF.

Although the authorities have occasionally accused the MILF of carrying out the abductions, the group says it never uses such tactics.

Philippines tourism secretary Richard Gordon briefs reporters after the latest kidnapping

In contrast, a much smaller armed group, the Abu Sayyaf, makes an industry out of kidnapping.

Last year it abducted dozens of Filipinos and foreigners and collected millions of dollars of ransom.

The Abu Sayyaf say that it too is fighting for Muslim independence but although many of its members are former guerrillas there is very little that is political in any of their escapades.

When the government describes it simply a gang of bandits, its description is quite accurate.

By John Maclean in Manila
BBCNEWS

Philippine kidnappers demand ransom for Australian Map

source: BBCnews Asia

Kidnappers holding an Australian man in the Philippines have demanded $2m (£1.3m) in ransom for his release.

The message came in a video sent to the Filipina wife of Warren Richard Rodwell.

The retired soldier went missing a month ago from his home in Ipil town on the restive island of Mindanao, in the south of the country.

Officials say they believe he is being held by Islamist militants.

The Philippine military said that it believed Abu Sayyaf, an al Qaeda-linked Islamist militant group, was holding Mr Rodwell.

Police found bloodstains at the scene where the 53-year-old was taken on 5 December.

His house, which he shares with his wife Miraflor Gutang, is mid-way between Pagadian City in the north and Zamboanga in the south.

In photographs sent to his wife as proof of life three days before Christmas, Mr Rodwell was shown with a wound on his right hand, said Major General Noel Coballes, commander of the Zamboanga region.

In the video, Mr Rodwell appealed to both his family and the Australian and Philippine governments to help secure his release.

The Australian government has a longstanding policy of refusing to pay ransom for its citizens.

Major Coballes told reporters that the Australian government had set up a task force to assist Philippine authorities.

The Australian embassy in Manila issued a statement saying "the Australian government has not sent a negotiating team to the Philippines", AFP reported.

"Philippine authorities are taking the lead on responding to Mr Rodwell's kidnapping. Our embassy in Manila is working closely with Philippine authorities," the statement said.

Kidnappings for ransom occur periodically in the southern islands of the Philippines, with foreigners often the target. Areas within the region are used as bases by Islamist militants and rebel groups.