Apropos of my column this week on Italy’s ransom payments to terrorists, here’s a new related story out of the Philippines:

Once more, the Arroyo government is claimed to be negotiating the release of hostaged Filipino accountant Roberto Tarongoy by his captors, with a counter offer of $6 million, or $4 million short of the earlier $10 million demanded by the Iraqi rebels, a reliable source from the Department of Foreign Affairs told the Tribune yesterday.

It was not known whether President Arroyo will again be tapping Libya for the ransom money, although the source pointed out it is likely for her to seek the help of Saudi Arabia in raising the funds, as Mrs. Arroyo was reported to have done the Saudi government a “big favor” by ordering the release from immigration detention of suspected al-Qaeda financier, Mohammed al-Sughayir…

…“How we are moving now is just like what I was doing with Angelo de la Cruz. We are making contacts already,” a transcript of Seguis’ interview obtained also yesterday disclosed.

In the case of De la Cruz, a truck driver, $6 million was reportedly paid for his release, with Libya putting out $5 million, while the Philippine government put out $1 million, taken from the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Malaysia was said to have facilitated the payment to the Iraqi abductors, the Khaled bin al-Waleed Iraqi Islamic Army.

Weasels all.

I am sorely tempted to swear in Tagalog, but my mom and dad read my blog.

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Related: More on the Sgrena case from David Frum.

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