Kidnappers of Philippine teachers demand ransom

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, (AFP)

Kidnappers holding hostage three Filipino teachers on Saturday demanded a six-million-peso (130,000-dollar) ransom for the release of their captives.

The teachers were snatched by armed men who boarded a small boat that was ferrying them to the southern port city of Zamboanga Friday.

It was not clear which group was holding them, although Islamic militants from the Abu Sayyaf and pirate groups are known to operate in the area.A relative of one of the victims said the hostages were allowed to call their families Saturday to relay the demand.

"They are asking six million pesos for all the hostages or two million pesos for each of them. Where are we going to get the money to pay them? We are poor," a brother of one of the hostages told reporters.

Both the police and the military said no one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, although operations have been launched to try and locate the teachers.

Kidnapping for ransom involving pirates, armed groups and Islamic militants is a major problem in the southern Philippines.

On nearby Jolo island, suspected Abu Sayyaf fighters are holding hostage a Swiss national, an Italian and a Filipino woman working for the Red Cross. They were snatched on January 15 while working on a humanitarian mission.