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Ces’ kidnappers give deadline: P15 million by Tuesday noon

DILG puts up P500,000 each for the kidnappers of Ces and her team.

The kidnappers of ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Ces Drilon, her cameraman and a university professor have asked for a P15-million ransom, which they want delivered by Tuesday noon, according to an emissary.

The emissary, Alvarez Isnaji, mayor of the town of Indanan, Sulu, told reporters in Sulu the kidnappers set Tuesday as the deadline for the P15 million ransom for Drilon, ABS-CBN cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Prof. Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State Univerisity.

The kidnappers released ABS-CBN assistant camerman Angelo Valderama Thursday night after taking the television crew June 8 with Dinampo, who was their guide.

Isnaji, meanwhile, clarified that the he never mentioned any ransom amount. He said that it was the kidnappers who declared the amount in exchange for the hostages’ freedom.

The mayor added that he nearly backed out of the negotiations but decided against it after talking with Drilon on the mobile phone Monday morning.

He said Drilon cried during the phone conversation at around 8 a.m.

Meanwhile, Drilon’s family issued a new statement Monday, saying they are “deeply saddened and troubled by accusations that ABS-CBN has abandoned Ces and Jimmy.”

“ABS-CBN is doing everything it can to help them and their families through this harrowing ordeal,” the family said.

The family statement said, “ABS-CBN will abide by its policy not to pay ransom because this would embolden kidnap for ransom groups to abduct other journalists, putting more lives at risk.”

The ultimatum came as heavily armed troops shelled a forested area on southern Jolo island where the extremists are holding the trio, injuring a woman living in the area, officials said.

“One woman was rushed here at the hospital because of shrapnel wounds she got from the shelling,” a staff member at the Sulu Provincial Hospital said.

Troops moved into the area near the town of Indanan on Sunday to put pressure on Abu Sayyaf extremists who snatched the group on June 8.

“We don’t know what they are up to and what they are asking from the family of Drilon, but they gave me an ultimatum until Tuesday to resolve this problem,” said Alvarez.

“The kidnappers wanted the family of Drilon to comply with their agreement,” he said without elaborating.

“I need to know what the family of Drilon promised to the kidnappers. All negotiations should pass through me,” he added.

Drilon, 46, had gone to Jolo to interview Radulan Sahiron, one of the surviving Abu Sayyaf leaders who mounted a string of abductions of western tourists in the south in 2000 and 2001, raising millions of dollars in ransom.

Many of the other leaders have been killed or arrested in military operations assisted by US Special Forces military advisers who are temporarily based in Jolo and nearby islands.

Alvarez said he was worried the military’s shelling could endanger the lives of the hostages. But commander of the Philippine Marines, Major-General Nelson Allaga, said he was certain the hostages were not in the area at the time.

President Gloria Arroyo has ordered police and troops get back all of the hostages alive, and military reinforcements arrived here on Sunday. – With Agence France Presse

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20 Comments

  1. sidelines sidelines

    Just heard from the news that the DOJ secretary is worried about the deadline set for tomorrow at 12 noon. I just hope its really a genuine concern for the safety of the victims.

    I also hope that the declared 15 million ransom has no tongpats.

    Let’s all continue to pray for the safety of the victims.

  2. Valdemar Valdemar

    Tataas pa rin yan. Ngunit may hangganan. Di pa kaci pumupunta jan si Asperon. Di naman si Ces ang nakalaan na pugutan. Magaling lang umiwas ang hinihintay nila sa bitag.

  3. Etnad Etnad

    Mukhang galamay na naman ni Glorya ang may kagagawan ng pagdukot kila Ces & Co. Lumulutang na naman ang pangalan ni Esperon at si Puno ng DILG. Mukhang pinaglalaruan lang tayo ng mga masasamang elemento ng ating Gobyerno at Military. Mas malala pa ang sitwasyon ngayon kaysa noong panahon ni Marcos. Kawawang Pilipinas …

  4. Etnad Etnad

    Ano na ang nangyari sa ZTE, Tongpats, 500T, Joc Joc scam, Garci scam at yong iba pang scam. Kalimutan na lang ba natin? Habang hindi natatapos ang mga scam na ito mas dadami pa ang masamang mangyayari sa ating Bansa na gagawin ng Pekeng Gobyernong ito para lang mapagtakpan ang lahat ng ito.

  5. chi chi

    P15M by Tuesday or what????!!!

    Pumapapel ng husto si Gloria, in touch sila ni Ass!

  6. Etnad Etnad

    Ako ay kinakabahan sa kahihinatnan nila Ces. Ang Gobyernong ito ay walang pakialam kung sino man ang masasagasaan. Mapagtakpan lang ang kanilang kabuhungan. Case Closed …. Glorya … next Please ….

  7. bitchevil bitchevil

    Bear in mind that those bandits are very young, undisciplined and disorganized. Excuse me if my mind keeps flying; but what would stop these kids who are away from the mainstream from sexually abusing Ces who undoubtedly is a pretty woman even at her age? I would not be surprised if some of the previous female hostages, local and foreign, were raped. They might admit this in private but not open to the public. In a group of 100 young bandits, I’m sure some would be tempted at their female hostage. One day, two days…they might hold their desires. But one month? Hmmm…

  8. Mike Mike

    bitchevil, I wouldn’t even want to think about that. Lets just hope and pray that Ces and Co. will be returned home safely.

  9. Etnad Etnad

    Masakit man isipin pero mangyayari yan. Isa yan sa peligro sa uri ng trabaho nila. Pumapasok sila kasi sa alanganin.

  10. Re: Major-General Nelson Allaga, said he was certain the hostages were not in the area at the time.

    Gago talaga itong lasengong Allaga na ito!

    Was he there? Or maybe, “palabas” lang niya iyan, kunyari lang dahil alam niya na walang kalaban doon!

  11. Anna,
    If he is dead sure the hostages were not there, he has info where they really are!

  12. BTW, Ellen, Inquirer’s Blog Addicts’ “Online Buzz on Journalist’s Abduction” quoted:

    One comment on the blog post of Ellen Tordesillas states: “By the way, why is it that whenever someone gets kidnapped (not from media), the media is all over it even on the pleadings of the victim’s family not to report it. But when it’s their own who gets kidnapped they had a news blackout? Their reason? “… with utmost consideration for the safety of our news team” Whoa.. as if the other victims safety is of no importance to them. Sorry guys can’t help it. I knew someone who has been kidnapped before and these media outfits are like leeches.. the relatives just couldn’t shake them off!!!”

    The link is here: http://blogs.inquirer.net/blogaddicts/2008/06/11/online-buzz-on-journalists-abduction/

  13. doubting winston doubting winston

    So Ces Drilon’s kidnapping has eclipsed the Meralco bruohaha???
    What a convenient ‘coincidence’ !

  14. sidelines sidelines

    Bitchevil:Excuse me if my mind keeps flying; but what would stop these kids who are away from the mainstream from sexually abusing Ces who undoubtedly is a pretty woman even at her age?

    Let’s hope this is not going to happen. ABS-CBN should pay the ransom, NOW. If this is the only way for Ces to be freed NOW. Anyway, Ces is there in Sulu for the benefit of their company, trying to get an “Exclusive”.

    Whoever is the mastermind of this kidnapping, should release Ces’ group upon payment of Ransom. No double crossing.

  15. martina martina

    Nakalimutan na rin si Abalaos, baka patay na iyong tao, wala pang kaso, lusot nga naman!

  16. bitchevil bitchevil

    I can’t believe it…the PNP just announced that Ces and the rest would be freed within 24 hours without any ransom to be paid. How can we be made to believe that they would just release Ces just like that? Assuming it’s true, it’s premature for PNP to make such an announcement. What if it doesn’t happen or the kidnappers change their mind? If PNP is confident of her release without ransom (?), then PNP could have a role in the kidnap.

  17. bitchevil bitchevil

    Martina, Abalos is currently on a cruise with his wife. If he’s in town, he frequents Wack-Wack to play golf.

  18. bitchevil bitchevil

    Martina, Abalos is currently on a cruise with his wife. If he’s in town, he frequents Wack-Wack to play golf. What’s to be anticipated is JDV’s testimony at the Senate on ZTE deal. He said he would appear after SONA or sometime in August. Why that long? Between now and then, anything could happen…

  19. dandaw dandaw

    be… last month several of the Dorobos lap dogs were on a Mediterranean cruise now another set of her lap dogs are on a cruise again. What a life. No difference from Marcos.

  20. bitchevil bitchevil

    Dandaw, the Dorobos are different from Marcos. I would agree if you say Imelda was like the Dorobos who always went abroad; but not Marcos who seldom made the trips. For one thing, he was very sick during his last few years.

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