CANBERRA, Australia, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The Australian government says it won't pay a $2 million ransom demanded for a former Australian soldier kidnapped in the southern Philippines.
The government will do everything possible, short of paying the ransom, to ensure the safe return of Warren Rodwell, Human Services Minister Brendan O'Connor said, the Herald Sun of Melbourne reported.
Rodwell, 53, who was abducted from his home Dec. 5, appeared in a 108-second video sent to his Filipino wife pleading with the Australian Embassy and family members to help him.
"This is your constituent appealing for his life, his safety," Rodwell says in the video.
"To my family, please do whatever to raise the 2 million U.S. dollars they are asking for my release as soon as possible."
Australian officials say they're working with Filipino authorities in investigating.
O'Connor said the government has had a policy of not paying ransom for "many, many years."
"The embassy is working with local authorities and we should allow them to do that work," he said. "We will be working hard to ensure that Mr Rodwell is released."
Local army commander Maj. Gen. Noel Coballes said was possible Rodwell was being held by the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf Islamic extremist group.
