June 2008 – Page 4 – ellen tordesillas

Driver claims military agent, not Abus seized Drilon team

Published by Ellen on June 12, 2008

By Julie Alipala
Mindanao Bureau

Breaking news: Angelo Valderrama, Ces’ assistant cameraman was released Thursday night.

GMA 7: Ces cried for help

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The hired driver of television reporter Ces Drilon and her crew has claimed to police that a known “military agent” and not members of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group abducted the ABS-CBN team, the Sulu police chief said Thursday.

Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, Sulu police director, said driver Maramma Hasim, the man hired by Drilon and her team to chauffer for them in Maimbung on the day of their disappearance, claimed that one Juamil “Maming” Biyaw was the “missing link” to knowing who was behind the abduction.

Two marines kidnapped

Published by Ellen on June 12, 2008

Update: MILF leader frees two Marines in Basilan More of this in comments section below.

On the heels of the kidnapping of broadcaster Ces Drilon and her team, the Philipine Navy reported that two marines were abducted last Tuesday, June 10, in Al Barkha, Basilan by MILF followers.

The marine were identified as Corporals Jessie Duatin and Bernie Alcabasa .

The Philippine Navy identified their abductors as MILF Commander Malat Sulaiman alias Long Masud.

Is JI into Cess kidnapping?

Published by Ellen on June 12, 2008

With ABS-CBN keeping mum on the progress of efforts to free broadcaster Ces Drilon and her team, all sorts of speculations arise. Some maybe true, some may be just rumors. Police reports say Ces and three others are in the custody of Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad.

Philippine Star has additional info which is interesting. Albader Parad’s group is together with with Jemaah Islamiya bomb expert Zulkifli Bin Hir, a Malaysian.Zulkifli has a $5 million price in his head put up by the United States government.

Here is Philippine Star’s story:

Ces, TV crew in JI custody

By Roel Pareño

Zamboanga City – A Malaysian Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) bomb expert with a $5-million bounty on his head is holding broadcast journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon and her two cameramen in a remote jungle base of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, military sources said yesterday.

Yano orders probe of violations of rights of detained ‘plotters’

Published by Ellen on June 12, 2008

by Victor Reyes
Malaya

Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano has created a board that will look into allegations of violation of the rights of military officers detained for alleged involvement in a power grab attempt in February 2006.

The board of inquiry held its first meeting yesterday in Camp Aguinaldo with the wives of some of the detainees in attendance. It is headed by Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Bocobo, AFP inspector general, and includes as member Lt. Col. Benedicto Jose, chief of the AFP Human Rights Office.

Tiwala kay Yano

Published by Ellen on June 11, 2008

Marami ang nadismaya sa pag-plead guilty ng 11 na Magdalo officers noong Martes sa paglabag ng Article of War no. 96, Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and Gentleman.

Dahil wala silang media access, hindi nila masyado mapaliwanag ang kanilang desisyon. ngunit sa pagkakilala ko sa kanila, hindi nila ibebenta and kanilang paninindigan at hindi ko naman sila narinig na nag-affirm ng loyalty kay Gloria Arroyo.

Sa institusyon ng military, oo. Sa bayan oo. Hindi naman pag-aari ni Arroyo ang institusyon at ang bayan.

Praying for safe return of Ces and team

Published by Ellen on June 10, 2008

Update: ABS-CBN rules out ransom

Rep.Roilo Golez yesterday called on those who cherish freedom and peace “to pray for the safety and life of Ces Drilon and all other who are under involuntary and hostile custody. Let’s pray that God will enlighten and soften the hearts and minds of their captors.”

Ces and her crew, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and assistant cameraman Angel Valderama, together with peace advocate Octavio Dinampo, a professor at the Mindanao State University were abducted armed men in Maimbung, Sulu Sunday. Police reports say the kidnappers were members of the bandit group, Abu Sayyaf.

ABS-CBN appeals to colleagues in media to exercise “utmost consideration for the safety of our news team.”

11 Magdalo ‘boys’ plead guilty to conduct unbecoming

Published by Ellen on June 10, 2008

Check out statement of Atty. Trixie Angeles on this subject in the comments.

by Victor Reyes

Eleven junior officers facing trial in connection with the 2003 Oakwood mutiny yesterday changed their plea to guilty from not guilty to the charge of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.

The change of plea was made at the resumption of court martial proceedings and after a five-minute meeting with AFP chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano.

ABS-CBN on Ces Drilon

Published by Ellen on June 9, 2008

Following is the official statement of ABS-CBN on their broadcaster Ces Drilon and her two cameramen: Three ABS-CBN journalists Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Angelo…

Mga astig na senador

Published by Ellen on June 9, 2008

Mayroon tayong kasabihan na “Be careful with what you wish for because it might be granted.” Mag-ingat sa iyong pinapangarap, baka magkatotoo.

Naisip ko ito dahil sa pagwawala ng mga astig na senador na sina Juan Ponce-Enrile at Miriam Santiago sa Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines na kanilang inimbitahan sa Senado noong isang linggo.

Ang JPC ay organisasyon ng mga banyagang kumpanya sa Pilipinas. Kasama na doon ang mga kumpanya mula sa United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, Japan at Korea.Hubert Ito ang pinaghirapan ng pamahalaan na hikayatin na magnegosyo dito sa Pilipinas. Alam naman natin rin na kaya sila nandito dahil kumikita naman sila. Totoo naman na hindi yan sila magtityaga dito kung hindi naman sila kumikita.

Anwar’s anecdotes

Published by Ellen on June 8, 2008

Former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has an advice to people who complain that they have no time to read: Serve jail time.

Six years in prison on trumped -up charges of corruption and sodomy has not diminished Anwar’s wit and sense of humor. Speaking at a forum in Makati organized by De la Salle University College of Business and Economics, Ramon V del Rosario Sr. Graduate School of Business, and Asian Institute of Democracy, Anwar said while in solitary confinement from 1998 to 2004, he was able to read the entire collection of the works of Shakespeare not once but “four-and-a-half” times.

Month: June 2008