51.   The next day, he called relatives to arrange a ransom payment.

52.   The rebels reportedly used the large ransom payments to rearm themselves.

53.   The pair negotiated last year when the Abu Sayyaf made millions of dollars in ransom payments for freeing other hostages taken from a Malaysian beach resort.

54.   The Philippine government has opposed ransom payments, saying it would encourage kidnapping.

55.   The rebels finance their fight in part through ransom payments.

56.   The rebels have not publicly demanded ransom payments.

57.   The U.S. government tries to discourage American companies from making ransom payments, saying it encourages terrorism.

58.   There was no word on whether any ransom payments were made.

59.   There have been frequent kidnappings in the southern Philippines by bandits and rebel groups who make money from ransom payments.

60.   They made the pledge after a Zamboanga court freed two guerrillas caught carrying bundles of cash believed to be part of an earlier ransom payment, officials said.