BY VICTOR REYES

THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front yesterday said it has received information that kidnappers of the three delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross are demanding $10 million in ransom.

"MILF men inside Sulu, tasked to monitor the situation on the ground regarding the ICRC hostage-taking, are still validating the report," said the MILF in its website.

The MILF also noted reports of a $5 million ransom for the release of Italian Eugenio Vagni, Swiss Andreas Notter and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba who were abducted January 15 after visiting an ICRC water project at the Sulu provincial jail.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has rejected the MILF’s offer to help secure the freedom of the hostages. However, the MILF – which has fighters in Sulu, said it will continue helping.

The Task Force ICRC, a multi-sectoral body headed by Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, said it was not aware of any ransom demand.

"We are not aware of that. As far as here at my level, I am not aware of that, about ransom demands," said Fadzlur Rahman Abdullah, the task force spokesman.

The Abu Sayyaf, particularly sub-leader Albader Parad, has owned the kidnapping and wanted the government to negotiate.

The government is standing pat on its no-ransom and no-negotiation policies with kidnappers and terrorist groups.

The ICRC has repeatedly stated its no-ransom policy.

Religious and student leaders in Sulu are denouncing the kidnapping, according to the military.

The religious group Sabiel Al-Muhtadeen Foundation has issued a manifesto that in effect called the kidnapping "un-Islamic," said Lt. Col. Fatima Rasul, civil military operations officer of the military’s Joint Task Force Comet.

Rasul said the religious and student leaders are planning to organize a peace rally to press for the release of the hostages.

In Manila at the headquarters of the Philippine National Red Cross, Muslims and Christians yesterday participated in a blood-letting program.

The program was a joint project of the PNRC and the Young Moro of the Philippines Network (YMPN).

"This blood donation campaign only proves that there are no boundaries between what a Muslim and Christian can offer for humanity. This activity will generally promote unity and peace and we salute YMPN for this act of heroism," said Sen. Richard Gordon, PNRC chairman.

The PNRC said the need for blood donors never ceases especially since the war in Mindanao has continuously displaced hundreds of residents.

The YMPN, through its outreach coordinator Toni Leviste, said: "The objective of this activity is to show that although we may differ in the practice of our beliefs and religion, we are all Filipinos, believing in one God, who love our country."

"We denounce kidnapping and terrorism in Mindanao and appeal to those who claim to share our faith, yet contradict its teachings by their terrorist acts that spread fear and harm to the people who support and help them," added the renowned RP equestrienne.