Jolo rebels 'paid $5.5m ransom' 菲霍乐岛叛军已得到550万赎金

Some hostages have been held for 15 weeks

部分人质已被扣留15个星期

Muslim rebels holding around 30 hostages in the southern Philippines have reportedly received $5.5m in ransom for the release of the handful of captives freed so far.

Philippine military chief Angelo Reyes made the disclosure in a cabinet meeting led by President Joseph Estrada.

Mr Reyes said the guerrillas were using the money to buy weapons for their separatist war.

But Mr Estrada stopped short the discussion, apparently because of the presence of journalists covering the meeting.

Police sources say the rebels have been demanding about $1m for each Western hostage and about $350,000 for each of the others.

据报道，在菲律宾南部扣留约30名人质的穆斯林叛军因释放了少数人质已获得550万美元的赎金。

菲律宾军队首领Angelo Reyes是在总统埃斯特拉达主持召开的内阁会议上透漏这一消息的。

Reyes说这些反叛分子将用这些钱购买从事分裂活动的武器。

但埃斯特拉达打断了这一话题，显然是因为有记者在场。

警方消息说，反叛分子要求每个西方人质赎金100万美元，其它每个人质赎金35万美元。