Militants in southern Philippines demanded at least 5 million U.S. dollars ransom in exchange for the freedom of their two Chinese hostages, a local government official said Wednesday.

The kidnappers relayed the ransom as they phoned the families of their captives, Jampong Lin and James Lou, Mayor George Cainglet of Kabasalan town in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay said Wednesday.

"The kidnappers talked to the loved ones of their hostages. The families admitted to authorities were not given change to talk with the kidnap victims," he told a local radio station.

On June 4, six armed men seized the two Chinese traders in Kabasalan.

The kidnappers barged into the rented house of the victims and dragged them into a white van.

The military alleged rebel commander Waning Abdusalam, a senior leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) Special Operations Group, was behind the abduction.

The MILF denied their involvement in the abduction, saying Waning is no longer an MILF member.

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