ABS-CBN reiterates ‘no ransom’ policy
JOLO, Sulu – (UPDATE 2) The kidnappers of broadcast journalist Ces Drilon, her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, and Mindanao State University professor and peace advocate Octavio Dinampo, set a deadline of noon Tuesday for the payment of a P15-million ransom.
Indanan town Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, who has been negotiating for the safe release of the victims, said Drilon called at around 8:30 a.m. Monday, relaying the abductors' demand.
Isnaji said Drilon pleaded for help.
The mayor said he also talked to the kidnappers, asking them not to hurt Drilon and her companions.
He said the kidnappers informed him that they were able to talk to Drilon's family that has agreed to pay the P15-million ransom.
The money, the kidnappers claimed, should be brought to the mayor by a representative of the Drilon family, Isnaji said.
"I cannot do anything. The parents want to pay," he said.
Isnaji said that when he first met Drilon's brother and sister in Zamboanga City on Sunday, they did not talk of paying any ransom demanded by abductors.
"What they said was they don't have the money to pay," Isnaji said.
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN, Drilon’s network dismissed allegations that it has abandoned its reporter and crew but reiterated that it would continue to abide by its “no ransom policy.”
“We are deeply saddened and troubled by accusations that ABS-CBN has abandoned Ces and Jimmy,” the network said in a statement Monday.
”ABS-CBN is doing everything it can to help them and their families through this harrowing ordeal,” it said.
“However, 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,” it said.
The kidnappers’ 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.
Drilon, her cameramen Encarnacion, and Angelo Valderama; and university professor Octavio Dinampo had been en route to a secret meeting with a senior Abu Sayyaf leader when they were seized.
The abductors freed Valderama on June 12 after a ransom of P100,000 was paid.
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.
Isnaji 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 Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered police and troops get back all of the hostages alive, and military reinforcements arrived here on Sunday.
2 comments:
okay, this is funny. makes me unsure of the kidnapping is for real or a publicity stunt. obviously, the rebels have no cause as they do not want their story heard. the only goal is to get tax free money through coercion, in which case, they are no longer rebels but brigands.
okay, this is funny. makes me unsure of the kidnapping is for real or a publicity stunt. obviously, the rebels have no cause as they do not want their story heard. the only goal is to get tax free money through coercion, in which case, they are no longer rebels but brigands.
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