SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 18, 2008) – Abu Sayyaf gunmen freed before midnight Tuesday a Philippine television presenter and two others kidnapped in the southern island of Sulu.
The hostages, Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., including a university professor Octavio Dinampo were freed to government emissaries in Sulu’s hinterlands.
It was unknown if government negotiators paid ransom or not, but the kidnappers had demanded P15 million in exchange for the lives of the three hostages.
The ABS-CBN has confirmed the release of the hostages.
“ABS-CBN senior correspondent Ces Oreña Drilon and cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion were released by their abductors in Sulu province Tuesday night,” it said.
The Abu Sayyaf last week freed Drilon's cameraman Angelo Valderama after negotiators reportedly paid P5 million.
Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji negotiated for the safe release of all the victims. He said he only paid several hundreds of thousands of pesos as Valderama's "board and lodging" fee, but he confirmed the Abu Sayyaf ransom demand. Isnaji was selected by the Abu Sayyaf to negotiate for the release of the hostages.
Isnaji the family of Drilon is negotiating directly with the Abu Sayyaf and even promised to pay ransom to the kidnappers. Drilon's family denied the accusations. Isnaji threatened to resign as negotiator if the victims' families continue to talk directly with the Abu Sayyaf for the safe release of the hostages.
Isnaji earlier told the Mindanao Examiner that he expected the trio's release late Tuesday or on Wednesday. He did not give details or what was agreed between his group and the Abu Sayyaf, but said “they should be out very soon.”
The ABS-CBN repeatedly said that it will not pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf for the release of Drilon's group.
Local sources said unidentified negotiators from Manila have made contacts with the Abu Sayyaf and discussed the payment of ransom. Sources said once the ransom is paid, the kidnappers would make it appear that they freed the hostages in exchange for government livelihood projects.
Drilon's group was seized June 8 in the town of Maimbung while on their way to meet with an Abu Sayyaf terror leader Radulan Sahiron, whose group is believed to be holding the hostages. Aside from Sahiron, military and police also tagged Albader Parad, Gafur Jumdail and Umbra Jumdail as involved in the kidnappings along with two others Walid alias Tuan Walis and Sulayman Patta.
Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, the head of the local crisis management committee, appealed to negotiators not to pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf because the money is likely to be used to buy weapons and finance terrorism and more kidnappings.
The United States listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign terrorist organization and has offered rewards of up to $5 million for the capture of its known leaders.
US troops are deployed in Sulu province since 2006 and assisting Philippine forces defeat the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner)
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