The mayor was held a day after broadcaster Cecilia Drilon was freed [AFP]

Alvarez Isnaji and his son were detained on Wednesday a day after broadcaster Cecilia "Ces" Drilon, her cameraman and a local guide emerged from the jungle.
 
"Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider Isnaji are under the custody of [the police] and this afternoon charges will be filed against them for kidnapping," Avelino Razon, the national police chief, said on Thursday.
 
Fourteen alleged members of Abu Sayyaf, a group said to have links to al-Qaeda, have also been arrested.
 
'Ransom paid'

Alvarez Isnaji said he had negotiated the group's release, along with that of a second cameraman who was freed last week, after making "token payments" to the alleged abductors.

Statements from the freed captives "unravelled the fact that Mayor Alvarez Isnaji is involved in the kidnapping," Razon said.

Razon said police have also arrested Mameng Bitaw, a man who allegedly agreed to guide the journalists to an interview with a senior Islamic militant leader in Jolo.

Bitaw went missing while on the way to the rendezvous and the journalists were subsequently captured, Razon said.

National government officials said no ransom was paid to the hostage takers but sources close to the negotiations said more than $400,000 was paid to secure the captives' release.

Isnaji said he paid $4,500 to the abductors for the victims' "board and lodging" - a euphemism for ransom.

He did not say who provided the money.

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