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Abus kidnap TV news crew

June 16, 2008

SULU = Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels kidnapped a popular ABS-CBN reporter and her crew in Jolo, Sulu June 9 and are demanding a huge ransom for their release.
Kidnapped were multi-awarded ABS-CBN reporter Ces Orena-Drilon, two members of her crew, Angelo Valderama and Jimmy Encarnacion, and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo who reportedly arranged a secret meeting with the Muslim terrorists in a Sulu town.
Reports are that the terrorists were demanding P20 to 30 million in ransom for the release of the captives. But the government as well as ABS-CBN ruled out the payment of any ransom.
Two days after the kidnapping, Indanan town Mayor Isnaji Alvarez opened negotiations with the Abu Sayyafs for their freedom. On June 12, the terrorists released cameraman Valderama after a reported payment of P2 million for ‘board and lodging.’
ABS-CBN initially kept news of the incident under wraps for fear that it would undermine negotiations for their release. But news later leaked out about the hostage taking incident in Sulu.
The Philippine and US military continued to assist local authorities in tracking down the hostages and their captors. American soldiers helping Filipino security forces fight terrorism were said to be using electronic surveillance and unmanned aerial vehicles to trace the location of the hostages.
An army of foreign and local reporters have descended on Jolo to cover the kidnapping. Malacañang expressed relief on the release of Valderama and hope that the three other captives would be freed soon. Drilon’s network also
reported that talks are underway to have the hostages freed soon.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the government also “continues to
hope for the safety” of the remaining hostages.
Alvarez, a former leader Moro National Liberation Front himself, said “We are convincing the kidnappers to release Ces Drilon ahead of the others, but they refused for still unknown reason.”
The “board and lodging” money paid to the kidnappers came from Alvarez and Sulu Deputy Gov. Nur Ana Sahidulla. “We paid some sort of a ‘board-and-lodging’ fee to the kidnappers to secure the release of one hostage,” Alvarez said.
He added that the kidnappers were also negotiating directly with
Drilon’s family, but he did not give details of the progress of the talks.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded ransom of between P10 million and P50
million.
Alvarez added that he had spoken with Drilon on her cell phone before
Valderama was freed. “She was sobbing and asking us to help them. She
said the kidnappers tied the hands of the other hostages,” he said.
Drilon did not say whether they are being fed properly or tortured or
abused by their captors. Valderama was sneaked out of Sulu by the
military and brought to Zamboanga City after the kidnappers freed him to
the emissaries of Alvarez.
Alvarez and Sahidulla briefed Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, head of the
local crisis-management committee, on the progress of the negotiations.
Police said the hostages are being held by Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader
Parad, Gafur Jumdail and Umbra Jumdail, also known as Dr. Abu, in Sulu’s
hinterlands.
Parad and Jumdail are notorious Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by Washington
and Manila for terrorism and kidnappings. The two are also believed
coddling Jemaah Islamiah bomber Dulmatin and Umar Patek, tagged as
behind the 2002 deadly bombings in Bali, which killed more than 200
mostly tourists, and in several attacks in Jakarta.
The US has offered up to $5 million in bounty and Manila as much as
P10-million reward for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Jumdail, for
their capture dead or alive.
Tan warned journalists to stay away from Abu Sayyaf lairs.

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