Breaking News: Ces Drilon et al, released

But the 15 million dollar question is:  At what cost?  Who footed the bill?  Yesterday and the day before, conflicting reports were splattered all over the news. Repeatedly, it was reported  Ces' family consented to 15 Million.

Reports, just hours before she was released, say that no ransom was paid.

Which is which?

Thank God, Ces et al are saved.  They should, however, be strongly admonished, for risking their lives, and the lives of many others by pursuing this lawless group of brigand-terrorists for a news scoop.  Why did they have to go there, after several past incidences of kidnappings/ killings of journalists and foreigners.  

Imagine the cost our government spent in the negotiation and rescue efforts. Imagine the anxiety.

Ces, 2 others freed
By Cecille Suerte Felipe 
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

ABS-CBN anchor Ces Drilon, her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and professor Octavio Dinampo were released at past 11 last night in Sulu by the Abu Sayyaf group that held them captive for over a week. The three hostages were reported to be in good health.

The hostages were reportedly handed over in Talipao, Sulu to the Philippine National Police headed by Senior Superintendent Jule Kasim and Haider “Jun” Isnaji, son of Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji.

The hostages were brought to the Sulu Provincial Hospital for medical check up.

Security was extremely tight, with a convoy of PNP troops escorting the hostages.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. confirmed their release at ten minutes past midnight. They were expected to be flown to Zamboanga City at daybreak for debriefing.

There was no confirmation on whether any ransom had been paid, although sources said “money changed hands.”

Razon had earlier stressed the possibility that the three hostages may be released within 24 hours, citing developments in the negotiations.

He said the negotiators led by Mayor Isnaji made no solid promise to the Abu Sayyaf in exchange for the release of the hostages but their persistent efforts apparently paid off.

“The negotiators did not promise anything. The release should have happened earlier but was delayed. Now we are pleased with the positive results we are seeing,” he said.

Razon cited the release of cameraman Angelo Valderama and the kidnappers’ twice moving the deadline for their ransom demand as reasons for his optimism.

“In this latest development, the kidnapping group agreed to free Ces Drilon and company,” Razon said.

With the development, Razon stressed there is no more need to deploy troops to rescue the three hostages.

Earlier yesterday, the Abu Sayyaf agreed to “indefinitely” extend the deadline for the payment of P15 million in ransom and continue negotiations.

Isnaji said the kidnappers also agreed not to harm the hostages.

“Our emissaries were able to convince the captors of Ces to work on other options and extend the deadline,” Isnaji said.

“They have opened the lines for continuous negotiation and promised they will not harm the hostages,” he said.

The Abu Sayyaf on Monday issued an ultimatum and said they would execute the hostages by noonyesterday if the P15-million ransom was not delivered.

Isnaji immediately rushed the emissaries and was able to contact the kidnappers who agreed to “extend” the deadline, citing the current negotiations.

“They said they would behead them. But (yesterday), they are not saying that anymore,” Isnaji said.

After the ultimatum was given Monday, Isnaji said he had been on the phone with the kidnappers around six times, beginning with their first call at 6:15 a.m. yesterday.

“I said, ‘Maybe you can come up with some proposals besides the money (because) we cannot deliver on that,’” he said. “We have come up with a new idea that we will provide them with something else.”

“What is important right now is we are hoping they would heed our call that we can still work on options other than the very huge ransom,” according to Isnaji.

Isnaji said among the options proposed is to finance the livelihood projects and development programs of the kidnappers.

But Isnaji said Drilon herself revealed over the phone that her abductors have apparently prepared for the worst by tying up Encarnacion and Dinampo.

Worst-case scenario

Security forces are also gearing up for the worst-case scenario even as the deadline for the ransom payment had been extended, giving reprieve to the three hostages under threat of being executed after more than a week in captivity.

Malacañang said the government is already making preparations for a rescue operation.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza warned that authorities and the public should “not be lulled by the so-called ‘extension’ announced by the kidnappers.”

“While we join friends and relatives of Ces Drilon and her team in expressing relief that nothing untoward happened (yesterday) past the deadline, we encourage the negotiators and all those working on the ground to take advantage of this and pursue a peaceful end to this impasse,” Dureza said.

In a statement, Malacañang said, “The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now making ready for any contingency in relation to the abduction of Ces Drilon et al, by the Abu Sayyaf Group.”

“We are concerned about the general condition of the hostages. We are hopeful that they will be released safely,” the statement said.

Razon said earlier that they have made contingency plans, including the “final and last option” of a full-scale assault and rescue mission by the military should negotiations fail.

Razon stressed though he remains optimistic of the outcome of the negotiations.

He pointed out the extension of the deadline is a positive indication of the peaceful resolution of the hostage crisis.

“But just the same we have prepared for any contingency,” Razon said. “Ground troops are in place, including air and naval assets.”

Razon said they have already pinpointed the general location of the kidnappers and their hostages.

“The plans are in place and they are ready to go if necessary, that is if there is the need to exercise the final option,” according to Razon.

Police have already identified two of the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers and announced a P500,000 reward for each of them.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome told a news conference that Sulayman Patta, who goes by the aliases Amah Ma’as and Abu Haris, and a man named Walid, alias Tuan Wala, have been identified as among the kidnappers.

Bartolome said he could not yet provide additional details about the two bandits pending further information from authorities in Sulu.

“Aside from these (police sketches), the names include others but the confirmation will be based on the validation evaluation counterchecking of information,” Bartolome said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Alexander Yano also said a rescue operation is being prepared.

“That has always been assumed to be an option, they (troops) are (already) there (and) ready, but as I’ve said conditions on the ground will dictate how and when,” Yano said, but refused to elaborate on the conditions that would warrant military action, citing safety and security concerns.

At the moment government troops in Sulu are already coordinating with the police and local officials led by Gov. Sakur Tan.

Yano added that there is no need to augment troops in Sulu since there are sufficient forces already deployed in the region to address the crisis.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding Drilon, Encarnacion and Dinampo who were abducted last June 8.

Valderama, one of Drilon’s two cameramen, was released last Thursday. Isnaji said Valderama was freed after the kidnappers were paid a “minimal amount” for the hostages’ food and lodging expenses.

The deadline was extended yesterday as the hostages’ families made several tearful appeals on radio for the hostages to be spared.

Television network ABS-CBN said it was doing everything it could to help the hostages and their families through the ordeal, but that the company would not pay ransom because it would embolden kidnap groups.

Yano said the AFP would also ensure the no-ransom policy of the government is fully implemented.

“In fact, ransom is not our assumption, that’s not part of our assumption, we will take necessary action on the basis of what’s obtaining on the ground and not on the payment of ransom or similar concessions,” he said.

The AFP has earlier discouraged the payment of ransom to the Abu Sayyaf, as the money could be used to finance the group’s terrorist activities.

The al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf is among the most notorious of the terrorist groups in the world. It has been linked to several bombing incidents and kidnapping of local and foreign personalities, making the southern Philippines among the world’s most dangerous places

for tourists. –With Roel Pareño, Paolo Romero, James Mananghaya, Jaime Laude, Christina Mendez, AP