Philippines: Arroyo refuses to yield to abductors' demands

"Manila, 9 March (AKI) - The president of the Philippines', Gloria Arroyo, will not negotiate with the kidnappers of three Red Cross workers abducted almost two months ago, or yield to demands to withdraw troops from the southern province of Mindanao, a presidential spokesman said on Monday.Presidential press secretary Cerge Remonde said agreeing to the demands of “terrorists" would only lead to more kidnappings and terrorism.“We cannot relax our policy, we have to maintain our policy of not negotiating with terrorists and cordon them off," he said in an interview on local radio." (2009, Adnkronos.com)