MANILA, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government said Sunday that it adheres to no ransom policy after a Norwegian hostage was reportedly released by Abu Sayyaf Group.
It was reported that 30 million pesos (630,000 U.S. dollars) was paid to the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group for the safe release of Kjartan Sekkingstad, who has been taken hostage for almost a year.
"I would like to reiterate that the government maintains the no ransom policy," Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview over a state-run radio station.
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