Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen have demanded more than $60 million for a group of hostages they are holding in the jungles of the southern Philippines.

The ransom is the largest that the Muslim militant group has ever sought.

In September, gunmen abducted Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipino Marites Flor at an upscale resort complex on a southern Philippine island.

Army Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado said Wednesday that the Philippine government maintains a no-ransom policy. He said his troops will not scale back efforts to secure the hostages' freedom in the safest way possible.

With files from The Canadian Press