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.
菲霍乐岛叛军已得到550万赎金