Kampo Ni Isnaji Galit Kay Drilon; MNLF Nagiinit Na!

Ang napalayang si Ces Drilon ng hindi mapigilan ang emosyon sa naganap na pagdukot sa kanyang grupo sa Sulu. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / June 24, 2008) – Matindi umano ang galit ng kampo ni Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji sa pinalayang ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon dahil sa pagkakasangkot ng pulitiko sa kidnapping charges na inihain ng pulisya.

Maging ang Moro National Liberation Front at mga supporters ni Isnajio ay galit na rin kay Drilon dahil sa bigo itong ipagtanggol at linisin ang pangalan ng mayor na siyang nakipag-negosasyon sa Abu Sayyaf sa paglaya ng reporter at kasamahan nito.

Dinukot nuong June 8 si Drilon kasama ang dalwang cameraman nito na sina Jimmy Encarnacion at Angelo Valderama, gayun rin ang kanilang guide na si Prof. Octavio Dinampo ng Mindanao State University.

Pinalaya ang apat kapalit diumano ng P20 milyon ransom, ayon kay Atty. Firdausi Abbas na siyang abogado ni Isnaji na ngayon ay nakapiiit sa Maynila kasama ang anak na si Haider na tumulong rin sa negosasyon. Pinili ng Abu Sayyaf si Isnaji bilang negosasyador, subalit isinabit naman ito ng pulisya at sinabing nakinabang sa ransom na ibinayad ng ABS-CBN at pamilya ni Drilon at isang mayamang Intsik na hindi naman sinabi ang pangalan.

Ilang ulit rin na itinanggi ng ABS-CBN at ng pamilya ni Drilon na nagbigay sila ng ransom sa Abu Sayyaf, ngunit inamin naman ng pulisya na nagkaroon nga ng bayaran. Tumulong rin si Sen. Loren Legarda sa pagpapalaya kina Drilon at maging ito ay nagsabing walang ransom na ibiniyad sa Abu Sayyaf.

Itinanggi ni Isnaji ang lahat ng akusasyon sa kanya at sa anak.

“Ces Drilon should speak out the truth because she knew that Mayor Isnaji has nothing to do with the kidnapping. She should open up her mind now. Her conscience will not let hey calm,” ani pa ni Gafur Kanain, ang executive assistant ni Isnaji.

Sinumbatan pa ni Kanain si Drilon at sinabing walang utang na loob ito. “She cried many times begging for the help of Mayor Isnaji and telling him not to back out from negotiations especially when the Abu Sayyaf had threatened to behead them and now what? Iniwan nila si Mayor at pinagbintangan pa,” wika pa ni Kanain sa isang panayam.

Sinabi pa ni Kanain na maging ang MNLF ay nagpupulong na rin para sa kanilang gagawing hakbang. Hindi naman sinabi ni Kanain kung ano ang plano ng MNLF.

“The entire MNLF leadership and the ground commanders will be holding a command conference anytime to decide once and for all. We silenced our guns because we are sincere in fulfilling the 1996 peace agreement. The fabricated charges and accusations against Brother Isnaji is an act of provocation, a blatant insult and disrespect to the entire leadership of the MNLF,” ani pa umano ng isang text message ng MNLF na ipinasa naman ni Kanain sa Mindanao Examiner.

Si Isnaji ay isa rin mataas na opisyal ng MNLF at miyembro ng Central Committee ng dating rebeldeng grupo. Ito rin ang presidente ng provincial League of Municipalities.

Naunang nagpahayag ng pagka-dismaya si MNLF chieftain Muslimin Sema sa pagkakasangkot ni Isnaji sa kidnapping at sinabing suportado ng buong hukbo ng grupo ang mayor.

Si Isnaji rin ang nasa likod ng pagpapalaya ng mahigit sa 100 katao na binihag ng mga rebeldeng Muslim sa Zamboanga City nuong 2002 na binansagang “Cabatangan Siege.” (Mindanao Examiner)

Detained Mayor Supporters Hold Rally In Sulu

Photos sent to the Mindanao Examiner by a supporter of detained Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji show followers of the embattled politician call citizens to join them in a rally in Indanan town on Monday, June 23, 2008. Police says hundreds of Isnaji supporters join two rallies in Sulu province and demanded the government to free the mayor who was implicated in the Abu Sayyaf kidnapping of a Philippine television news crew in the province.

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 23, 2008) – Hundreds of supporters of a detained town mayor implicated in the kidnapping of a Philippine television news crew in Sulu province held a rally Monday and condemned the arrest of the politician.

Police implicated Indanan town Mayor Alvarez Isnaji in the June 8 Abu Sayyaf kidnapping of ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and her cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and their guide Octavio Dinampo, a professor of the Mindanao State University.

The four were seized in Maimbung town on their way to interview an Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, whose group was believed behind the kidnapping.

The Abu Sayyaf freed the four hostages separately after allegedly collecting as much as P20 million ransoms. And police Isnaji allegedly pocketed P3 million from the P5 million paid by Drilon's family to the kidnappers.

Isnaji, handpicked by the Abu Sayyaf to negotiate for the release of the hostages, denied the accusations. He and his son Haider, who also helped in the negotiations, were detained June 18 after they accompanied the victims to Zamboanga City after their release.

“Instead of praising Mayor Isnaji for saving the lives of the hostages, the government instead accused him and detained him. Tausugs must rise up against this kafir system of government,” said Gafur Kanain, Isnaji’s aide, during a rally in Indanan town in the morning.

Isnaji’s supporters took turns in condemning the arrest of the mayor and assailed the government for accusing him of involvement in the kidnappings. Streamers were also hanged in downtown Indanan, many as show of support to the embattled mayor, who is also the president of the provincial League of Municipalities.

“We vehemently condemned the baseless charges and accusations against our elder brother Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son, Jun Isnaji. Is this the kind of gratitude and respond we get from the government?” one streamer read.

Another streamer assailed Drilon for failing to defend Isnaji and his son against all accusations. “Ces, wala ka bang konsensya? We saved you, we clothed you, and we sent you home. Is this your way of saying thank you? You are not a principled woman.”

A second rally was also held in Jolo, Sulu’s capital town, in the afternoon, police said.

“We are monitoring the situation in Sulu,” Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, the provincial police chief, told the Mindanao Examiner.

Isnaji, a senior leader of the former rebel separatist group Moro National Liberation Front, is one of seven candidates running for governor in the Muslim autonomous region in August. The MNLF also demanded the release of Isnaji.

Before he became mayor, Isnaji was the Speaker of the Regional Legislative Assembly in the Muslim autonomous region and became also the acting regional governor in 2001.

He admitted paying several hundreds of thousands of pesos for the freedom of Drilon's group on top of a package of livelihood aids and infrastructure projects allegedly promised by Senator Loren Legarda, who helped in the negotiations to free the hostages.

Legarda denied making any promises to the kidnappers. Police also implicated Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad, Gafur Jumdail, Umbra Jumdail, Tuan Walis and Sulayman Patta as among about 30 gunmen involved in the kidnappings.

Washington 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. It also deployed a few hundred Marines and Special Forces soldiers in Sulu to help the Filipino military defeat the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine Al-Qaeda Affiliate Extends Ransom Deadline For 3 Hostages

Policemen in Sulu province patrol Jolo town as security forces prepare to rescue an ABS-CBN television presenter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including a university professor Octavio Dinampo held since June 8, 2008 by Abu Sayyaf militants tied to al-Qaeda terror network if negotiations for their release fail. The Abu Sayyaf is demanding P15 million ransoms and has extended its payment deadline on Wednesday June 18, 2008. The hostages are believed being held in Mount Tumatangis, top photo, in Indanan town, but other intelligence reports say the Abu Sayyaf is constantly moving from hideout to another to avoid detection by the military. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 17, 2008) – Philippine terrorists who kidnapped a television presenter and two others in the southern island of Sulu have extended an ultimatum for government negotiators to pay a huge ransom in exchange for the safe release of the hostages.

Abu Sayyaf militants are holding Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., including a university professor Octavio Dinampo and have demanded P15 million ransoms.

The kidnappers originally set the deadline at noon Tuesday, but extended this for another 24 hours, said Gafur Kanain, an aide of Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, who was selected by the Abu Sayyaf to negotiate for the release of the hostages.

“The kidnappers extended the deadline for another day. We thanked them for that,” Kanain told the Mindanao Examiner.

It was unclear what would happen after this deadline passes. President Gloria Arroyo has ordered police and military to recover the hostages alive, as more government reinforcements arrived in Sulu.

The hostages are believed being held in caves in the jungle of Mount Tumatangis in Indanan town, but other intelligence reports said the kidnappers have been constantly moving from one hideout to another to avoid detection by the military.

The ABS-CBN repeatedly said that it will not pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf for the release of Drilon’s group. “We are saddened and troubled by accusations that ABS-CBN has abandoned Ces and Jimmy,” the television network said in a statement.

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

It also reported that the kidnappers indefinitely extended the deadline for the payment of ransom and that Isnaji has offered the Abu Sayyaf livelihood projects instead.

But Kanain denied the reports and insisted the Abu Sayyaf’s deadline was extended only until Wednesday. “It’s indefinite. The kidnappers extended in until Wednesday,” he said.

The gang last week freed Drilon’s cameraman Angelo Valderama after negotiators reportedly paid P5 million. Isnaji said he only paid several hundreds of thousands of pesos as Valderama’s “board and lodging” fee, but he confirmed the Abu Sayyaf demand.

Local sources said unidentified negotiators from Manila have made contacts with the Abu Sayyaf and were discussing the payment of ransom. 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.

Isnaji said authorities reprimanded him for making public the Abu Sayyaf ransom demand. “Authorities phoned me and asked me why I made public the ransom demands of the kidnappers. But the truth must come out so our people will know what’s going on,” he said.

Abu Sayyaf militants tied to al-Qaeda terror network threatened to harm the hostages if ransom is not paid, according to the politician’s son, Jun Isnaji.

The elder 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 said he spoke with Drilon on the phone and appealed to him not to abandon the negotiation for their freedom. He said Drilon, who was crying and worried over their fate in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf. 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.

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.

Military tanks and trucks transporting government soldiers were seen Monday in Jolo town. It was unknown if they were preparing to mount a rescue operation.

Troops on Sunday fired about a dozen rounds of cannons toward the hinterlands of Sulu near where the Abu Sayyaf is hiding. But at least 5 people were wounded in the shelling and more than a thousand villagers fled their homes in Indanan town for fear they would be hit by indiscriminate attacks on the Abu Sayyaf.

Philippine authorities linked the Abu Sayyaf to both the al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya, blamed for the spate of terrorism in the southern Philippines. The demand for huge ransom has already lured many militants to join the group holding the hostages.

There were no known instances in Sulu that the Abu Sayyaf released their captives without paying ransom. In the past kidnappings, politicians or private and even government negotiators themselves paid hefty ransom to the Abu Sayyaf to secure the hostages. And worse, some negotiators and their emissaries usually make money by increasing or getting a cut on the ransom.

Kidnappings-for-ransom has virtually become a lucrative business for the Abu Sayyaf and a virtual livelihood for the group most feared in the southern Philippines. It was linked to many kidnappings of wealthy Filipino traders and foreigners in the southern Philippines with most of the victims opted to paying ransom or risk getting killed in captivity.

And Abu Sayyaf militants are known to rape their female captives, whether they are young or old, and in many instances beheaded their male hostages if their families refused to pay ransom.

Washington 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)

Muslim Woman Injured In Military Shelling In Sulu

A policeman guards Sunday, June 15, 2008 the Jolo wharf in Sulu in the southern Philippines as a Philippine Navy ship anchors nearby. Locals continue their daily routine as if there is no hostage crisis in Sulu. Abu Sayyaf gunmen are still holding a kidnapped ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including Professor Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University. Another cameraman Angelo Valderama was freed June 12 after negotiators paid several hundreds of thousands as "board and lodging" fees. The kidnappers are demanding money between P10 million to P50 million for the release of the hostages who were seized June 8 in Maimbung town while on their way to secretly interview a senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 15, 2008) – A Muslim grandmother was rushed to hospital on Sunday for shrapnel wounds after Philippine security forces fired about a dozen rounds of cannons in the hinterlands of Sulu province, where Abu Sayyaf militants are holding three people since last week.

The 65-year old woman was rushed to the Sulu Provincial Hospital in Jolo town by her relatives from Indanan town, where troops fired at least a dozen rounds of Howitzer cannons at dawn Sunday.

It was unknown if there were other victims aside from the old woman.

Military officials issued conflicting statements on why troops fired cannons despite ongoing negotiations for the release of ABS-CBN television reporter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including a university professor, Octavio Dinampo.

They were kidnapped June 8 in Maimbung town while on their way to secretly interview an Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, who earlier sent surrender feelers. Sahiron’s group is believed holding the hostages.

The Abu Sayyaf freed on Thursday another cameraman Angelo Valderama after negotiators headed by Indanan town Mayor Isnaji Alvarez paid several hundreds of thousands of pesos as “board and lodging” fee.

Isnaji said he is worried the firing of cannons could endanger the lives of the hostages.

The firing began at around 3 a.m. and the sound of the loud explosions from Howitzer cannons can be heard from as far as Jolo, Patikul and Indanan towns.It was unknown if the firing was a prelude to rescue the hostages, but President Gloria Arroyo has ordered police and military forces to get back all the hostages.
More soldiers arrived Sunday in Sulu on board the Philippine Navy ship BRP Bacolod City.

Sahiron, a notorious terror man, is included on the most wanted lists both of the Philippines and the United States because of killings and kidnappings of foreigners and Filipinos.

The Abu Sayyaf selected Isnaji to negotiate for the release of the hostages. The kidnappers were demanding as much as P50 million for the release of all the victims, but ABS-CBN said it will not pay ransom to the gang. Manila also said it will not pay ransom to secure the release of the hostages.

And more militants have reportedly joined the Abu Sayyaf group that is holding the hostages because of ransom. It said the number of the Abu Sayyaf is expected to increase as negotiations for the release of the hostages drag on.

Authorities fear that any ransom paid to the Abu Sayyaf could be used to purchase weapons and fund terrorism in the southern Philippines, where security forces are also battling Muslim and communist separatist rebels the past four decades.

Alvarez said the kidnappers were also negotiating directly with Drilon's family, but he did not give details of the progress of the talks.

He said the kidnappers were getting restless over the failure of Drilon’s family to resolve the crisis. He said the captors gave an ultimatum until Tuesday for the victims’ families to secure the release of the hostages.

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

Alvarez said he spoke to Drilon after her captors contacted him on his cell phone thrice on Saturday – one at 1.30 p.m. and then it was followed at 5 p.m. and the last at 9 p.m. – and the hostage appealed anew to fast track the negotiations for their release.

“Ces Drilon keeps on telling me to fast track the talks so they can come out safely,” Alvarez said, adding, Drilon’s family must closely coordinate with him in their negotiations. “I need to know what the family of Drilon promised to the kidnappers. All negotiations should pass through me,” he said.

Washington 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 the Philippine military defeats the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner)

Huge Ransoms Lure Militants To Gang Holding Philippine News Crew, University Professor

Hainatul Dinampo, wife of Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo, one of three people being held by the Abu Sayyaf group tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya gestures as she is being interviewed by television reporters at the Sulu Provincial Capitol on Saturday, June 14, 2008. Abu Sayyaf militants are also holding ABS-CBN award winning reporter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion since June 8 after they were kidnapped in Sulu's Maimbung town. The kidnappers demanded as much as P50 million ransoms. And below, Hainatul and her daughter, Fatima. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 14, 2008) – More than a dozen militants have reportedly joined the Abu Sayyaf group that is holding a kidnapped Philippine television news crew and a university professor in the southern island of Sulu.

Many of those who joined the kidnappers were lured by huge ransom the Abu Sayyaf is demanding in exchange for the release of a multi-awarded ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including their guide, Professor Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University.

President Gloria Arroyo ordered police and military forces to recover the hostages safely.

They were kidnapped June 8 in Maimbung town while on their way to interview a senior militant leader Radulan Sahiron, who has allegedly sent surrender feelers.
Militants have freed late Thursday television cameraman Angelo Valderama in the village of Sinumaan in Talipao town.

Intelligence reports said many of those who joined the kidnappers were new and old members of the Abu Sayyaf group tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya. It said the number of the Abu Sayyaf is expected to increase more as negotiations for the release of the hostages drag on.

Sulu police chief, Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim said they also received reports that the number of gunmen holding Drilon’s group has increased. “We received reports that the number of armed men holding the hostages is increasing,” he told the Mindanao Examiner without further elaborating.

Military and police authorities fear any ransom paid to the Abu Sayyaf could be used to purchase weapons and fund terrorism campaign in the southern Philippines.

The kidnappers were reported to be demanding as much as P50 million, but ABS-CBN said it will not pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf.

But Indanan town Mayor Isnaji Alvarez, who negotiated for the release of the cameraman, said he paid a few hundred thousand pesos to the kidnappers with some of the money coming from Sulu Deputy Gov. Nur Ana Sahidulla.

Alvarez said the money paid to the Abu Sayyaf was for “board and lodging” and not ransom.

"We are waiting for the kidnappers to call us so we can resume negotiations for the safe release of the hostages. We pray that this crisis will end soon," he said in a separate interview Saturday.

The Abu Sayyaf cut off all communication lines to the negotiators for a still unknown reason. But military sources said the kidnappers were constantly moving from one hideout to another to avoid detection.

But Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, commander of the regional police force, said the negotiations are continuing.

Sahidulla is helping Alvarez secure the freedom of the remaining hostages. She appealed to the kidnappers on Saturday to free Drilon’s group. “We appeal to you to free the innocent victims. You are not only giving our province and bad name, but the entire country as well,” she said.

Gov. Sakur Tan, head of the local crisis management committee, and families of the hostages, including the ABS-CBN, have earlier made a similar appeal.
Alvarez said the kidnappers were also negotiating directly with Drilon's family, but he did not give details of the progress of the talks.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded ransom between P10 million to P50 million. And that P5 million was allegedly paid to the gang for Valderama's release, other sources said.

Media reports also said that P2 million was paid to the Abu Sayyaf, but Alvarez denied this and at the same time criticized Amilasan Amilbajar, an assistant of outgoing Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza, who was allegedly the source of the news.

Dureza has been named as new Press Secretary and former military chief Hermogenes Esperon will take over as new Peace adviser.

The kidnappers have selected Alvarez to negotiate for the release of the hostages. Alvarez is also one of seven candidates running for the regional governor in the Muslim autonomous region elections in August.

The wife of the kidnapped professor, Hainatul Dinampo, said she was able to speak with her husband on Wednesday and told her to watch over their ten children.

“My husband told me to be strong and take care of our children. I was crying as we speak briefly on the cell phone,” the woman told the Mindanao Examiner after meeting with Tan at the Provincial Capitol in Patikul town where she sought help for the release of the captives.

She said an emissary of Alvarez on Saturday delivered medicines for Dinampo, who is suffering from arthritis. She also appealed to the kidnappers to free all the remaining hostages.

“Please release them all. They are innocent and kind people,” Hainatul said, adding, the governor assured her the government is working for the release of the hostages.

She said the kidnappers were also demanding an unspecified amount of money from her for the freedom of Dinampo. “They are asking money alright, but we are poor,” she said.

Police identified the kidnappers Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad, Gafur Jumdail and Umbra Jumdail, also known as Dr. Abu.

Parad and Jumdail are notorious Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by Washington and Manila for terrorism and kidnappings-for-ransom. The two are also believed coddling Jemaah Islamiya bomber Dulmatin and Umar Patek, tagged as behind the 2002 deadly bombings in the resort island of Bali which killed more than 200 mostly Australian holidaymakers and in several attacks in Jakarta.

The Abu Sayyaf group was also tagged as behind the kidnapping early this year of Maria Rosalie Lao, 58, a rice trader in Jolo town. It was also behind the kidnappings of 21 people, mostly Asian and European tourists from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan in 2001 and three US citizens and more than dozen Filipinos in the posh Dos Palmas resort in the central Philippine island of Palawan.

Last year, the group kidnapped seven people in Sulu and beheaded them after their families failed to pay up ransom. The US has offered up to $5 million bounty and Manila as much as P10 million rewards for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Jumdail, for their capture – dead or alive. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sayyaf Cuts Off Communication Lines To Negotiators, Still Holds 3 Hostages In South RP

Sulu Mayor Isnaji Alvarez gestures as he briefs June 13, 2008 journalists in Sulu province in southern Philippines on the situation of three remaining Abu Sayyaf hostages. Militants tied to al-Qaeda terror network freed one cameraman of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation late Sunday on a remote jungle village. The Abu Sayyaf is reportedly demanding as much as P50 million ransom for the release of multi-awarded reporter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, who were kidnapped June 8 together with a university professor Octavio Dinampo while on their way to a clandestine interview of a senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, who has sent surrender feelers. Police authorities said the surrender was a hoax to lure reporters to Sulu. And Below, Alvarez briefs Sulu Gov. Salur Tan, who heads the local Crisis Management Committee and his deputy Nur Ana Sahidulla. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 13, 2008) – Abu Sayyaf militants holding a Philippine television news crew and a university professor in the southern island of Sulu have cut off communication to government negotiators, leaving the fate of the hostages at the mercy of their captors.

“We have been trying to get in touch with the kidnappers, but all their cell phones are cut off,” said Indanan town Mayor Isnaji Alvarez, who is negotiating with the Abu Sayyaf group tied to al-Qaeda terror network.

Militants have freed late Thursday television cameraman Angelo Valderama in the village of Sinumaan in Talipao town. But the gunmen are still holding multi-awarded ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and another cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including their guide, Professor Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University.

The Philippine military took custody of the freed captive and hid him from dozens of reporters now encamped in Jolo town.

Alvarez, a former Moro National Liberation Front leader, admitted they paid a few hundred thousand pesos to the kidnappers for the freedom of Valderama. “We are convincing the kidnappers to release Ces Drilon ahead of the others, but they refused for a still unknown reason,” he said.

The money paid to the kidnappers came from Isnaji and Sulu deputy governor Nur Ana Sahidulla. “We paid some sort of a ‘board and lodging’ fees to the kidnappers to secure the release of one hostage,” Alvarez said.

He said the kidnappers were also negotiating directly with Drilon’s family, but he did not give details of the progress of the talks.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded ransom between P10 million to P50 million. And that P5 million was allegedly paid to the gang for Valderama’s release, other sources said.

Media reports also said that P2 million was paid to the Abu Sayyaf, but Alvarez denied this and at the same time criticized Undersecretary Amilasan Amilbajar, of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, who was allegedly the source of the news.

“Amilasan should stop talking to the press because he does not know what is going on here. He will just get reports from different sources and then passed them off as his reports. He is not even part of the negotiating team. This is political propaganda,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said he spoke to Drilon on her cell phone before Valderama was freed. “She was sobbing and asking us to help them. She said the kidnappers tied the hands of the other hostages,” he said.

Drilon did not say whether they are being fed properly or tortured or abused by their captors. Valderama was sneaked out of Sulu by the military and brought to Zamboanga City after the kidnappers freed him to the emissaries of Alvarez.

Alvarez and Sahidulla briefed Friday Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, head of the local Crisis Management Committee, on the progress of the negotiations.

The kidnappers have selected Alvarez to negotiate for the release of the hostages. Alvarez is also one of seven candidates running for the regional governor in the Muslim autonomous region elections in August.

The kidnappers originally demanded P10 million, but a radio network dzRH in Manila on Thursday said the militants asked P50 million from the victims' families negotiating directly with the Abu Sayyaf.

It said the hostages should have been freed on Wednesday after unnamed negotiators agreed to pay the ransom money, but the Abu Sayyaf did not release Drilon's group after the ABS-CBN issued a statement saying it will not pay ransom to the terrorist group tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya.

The radio network, which quoted unnamed sources privy to the negotiations, also reported that the kidnappers have already lowered their demands to P25 million. The reports could not be independently confirmed and police in Sulu said Dinampo had been separated from the group of Drilon.

Police said the hostages are being held by Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad, Gafur Jumdail and Umbra Jumdail, also known as Dr. Abu, in Sulu's hinterlands.

Parad and Jumdail are notorious Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by Washington and Manila for terrorism and kidnappings-for-ransom. The two are also believed coddling Jemaah Islamiya bomber Dulmatin and Umar Patek, tagged as behind the 2002 deadly bombings in Bali which killed more than 200 mostly tourists; and in several attacks in Jakarta.

The Abu Sayyaf group was also tagged as behind the kidnapping early this year of Maria Rosalie Lao, 58, a rice trader in Jolo town. It was also behind the kidnappings in 2001 of 21 people, mostly Asian and European tourists from the Malaysian island-resort of Sipadan.

Last year, the group kidnapped seven people in Sulu and beheaded them after their families failed to pay up ransom.

The US has offered up to $5 million bounty and Manila as much as P10 million rewards for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Jumdail, for their capture – dead or alive. Tan warned journalists to stay away near Abu Sayyaf lairs.

“We do not want problems anymore. Journalists should not even glorify or interview the Abu Sayyaf. They are terrorists. We have many beautiful places and pristine beaches in Sulu.”

“Our Sulu is rich in culture and heritage, that is what journalists coming to Sulu should write or report about and not the Abu Sayyaf,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sayyafs Free 1 Hostage, But Hold On To 3 Others In Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 12, 2008) – Abu Sayyaf militants have freed late Thursday one of four people they kidnapped in the southern Filipino island of Sulu, police said.

Police said the kidnappers released television cameraman Angelo Valderama in the village of Sinumaan in Talipao town.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding multi-awarded ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and another cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including their guide, Professor Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University.

“Valderama is finally freed. He will undergo medical examination and debriefing by government authorities. We are still waiting for developments on the other hostages,” Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, the Sulu police chief, told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said Valderama was freed to emissaries of Indanan town Mayor Isnaji Alvarez. “Valderama looks okay, Kasim said.

The kidnappers have selected Alvarez, a former Moro National Liberation Front rebel leader, to negotiate for the release of the hostages, the ABS-CBN reported.

Alvarez is also one of seven candidates running for the regional governor in the Muslim autonomous region elections in August.

It was not immediately known whether ransom was paid in exchange for the release of Valderama, but the kidnappers have reportedly demanded as much as P50 million for the hostages.

The kidnappers originally demanded P10 million, but a radio network dzRH in Manila on Thursday said the militants asked P50 million from the victims' families negotiating directly with the Abu Sayyaf.

It said the hostages should have been freed on Wednesday after unnamed negotiators agreed to pay the ransom money, but the Abu Sayyaf did not release Drilon's group after the ABS-CBN issued a statement saying it will not pay ransom to the terrorist group tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya.

The radio network, which quoted unnamed sources privy to the negotiations, also reported that the kidnappers have already lowered their demands to P25 million. The reports could not be independently confirmed and police in Sulu said Dinampo had been separated from the group of Drilon.

"We have intelligence reports saying Dinampo had been separated from the other captives for a still unknown reason," Kasim said.

The fate of Dinampo remains unknown. But Kasim said the hostages are being held by Abu Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad and Umbra Jumdail, also known as Dr. Abu, in Sulu's hinterlands.

Police also tagged Gafur Jumdail as among those who kidnapped the four people on June 8 near the village of Kulasi in Maimbung town while on their way to interview a senior Abu Sayyaf terror leader, Radulan Sahiron, who is said to be planning to surrender.

"ABS CBN News journalists Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Angelo Valderama have been kidnapped for ransom. ABS CBN News is doing everything it can to help the families of its kidnapped journalists through this harrowing ordeal," the television network said in a statement released on Wednesday.

"However, ABS CBN News 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 added.

Parad and Jumdail are notorious Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by Washington and Manila for terrorism and kidnappings-for-ransom. The two are also believed coddling Jemaah Islamiya bomber Dulmatin and Umar Patek, tagged as behind the 2002 deadly bombings in Bali which killed more than 200 mostly tourists; and in several attacks in Jakarta.

The Abu Sayyaf group was also tagged as behind the kidnapping early this year of Maria Rosalie Lao, 58, a rice trader in Jolo town. It was also behind the kidnappings in 2001 of 21 people, mostly Asian and European tourists from the Malaysian island-resort of Sipadan.

Last year, the group kidnapped seven people in Sulu and beheaded them after their families failed to pay up ransom.

The US has offered up to $5 million bounty and Manila as much as P10 million rewards for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Jumdail, for their capture – dead or alive. (Mindanao Examiner)