Asian Democrats Welcome Release Of Peace Advocate

Freed Abu Sayyaf hostage Octavio Dinampo. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

The World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA) warmly welcomes the release of one of its partners, Prof. Octavio Dinampo, from kidnappers who abducted him along with three Filipino TV journalists in Jolo, Mindanao.

While we are pleased with this development, we condemn in the strongest terms his abduction: under no circumstances can such a barbaric act be justified.

Moreover, we are disturbed by the military's prolonged "detention" of Prof. Dinampo for "de-briefing" purposes after he was released. Family and friends had no immediate access to him, as he was instead flown to Zamboanga City for further "de-briefings". Furthermore, we strongly reject the insinuations made by certain ranking officers within the security forces that Prof. Dinampo was not a genuine "victim."

Prof. Dinampo is a renowned peace advocate who joined WFDA's solidarity and peace mission to Timor Leste during the 2006 crisis that hit the region's newest nation. He also joined us in our biennial conference in Manila last September when we gathered the region's leading democrats and activists in exploring common paths to peace and democracy.

WFDA is distressed by the culture of violence that has beset many countries and territories left marginalized due to historical injustices perpetuated by incumbent governments. The kidnapping of a peace advocate together with neutral journalists is reflective of the desperation of marginalized peoples to attain their goals of survival and acceptance into mainstream society and the body politic.

We are deeply concerned that this kidnapping may have further complicated the stalled peace process in Mindanao while preparations are also being made for the impending controversial election in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

We call on all related authorities and sectors to work for the elimination of the conditions that led to the kidnapping of Prof. Dinampo. We pray that such egregious violations of human rights will not happen again.

Abu Sayyafs Release Kidnapped Philippine TV Reporter, 2 Others In Sulu

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)

Abu Sayyaf To Free Kidnapped Philippine TV Presenter, 2 others

Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, who is negotiating for the safe release of a Philippine television presenter Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and university professor Octavio Dinampo, speaks on his phone at the Provincial Capitol in Patikul town. Isnaji told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner that the trio would be freed on June 17 or early next day by their Abu Sayyaf captors. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 17, 2008) – Abu Sayyaf militants whose group is tied to al-Qaeda terror network may free a kidnapped Philippine television reporter and two others in the southern island of Jolo, a government negotiator said Tuesday.

The Abu Sayyaf kidnapped Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., including a university professor Octavio Dinampo and demanded P15 million ransoms. The kidnappers originally set the ransom 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 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.

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 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 said 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.

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 in nearby towns of Talipao and Maimbung 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.

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.

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)

Abu Sayyaf Threatens Hostages In Sulu

A convoy of military tanks and trucks transporting soldiers pass on a village Monday, June 16, 2008 in Sulu province in southern Philippines where Abu Sayyaf militants tied to al-Qaeda terror network are holding since June 8 an ABS-CBN television reporter Ces Drilon, her camera Jimmy Encarnacion and university professor Octavio Dinampo. Sulu Mayor Isnaji Alvarez, top, who is negotiating with the Abuy Sayyaf says the kidnappers set an ultimatum June 17 for P15 million they are demanding for the release of the hostages. Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, head of the local crisis management committee, talks to the media in Jolo town. Tan appeals to negotiators not to pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 16, 2008) – Abu Sayyaf militants tied to al-Qaeda terror network have threatened to harm a kidnapped Philippine television news reporter, her cameraman and a university professor if their families fail to pay ransom.

Militants kidnapped Ces Drilon and Jimmy Encarnacion, who work for the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, and their guide Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University on June 8 in Maimbung town in Sulu province.

They were on their way to secretly interview a senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, who has sent surrender feelers to authorities to lure journalists in Sulu.

One cameraman Angelo Valderama was freed on June 12 after negotiators allegedly paid P5 million ransom. The kidnappers, believed to be headed by Sahiron himself, gave an ultimatum until Tuesday for the families of the hostages to pay P15 million ransom.

"They threatened to harm the hostages if their demand is not met by noon on Tuesday," said Jun Alvarez, a son of Sulu mayor Isnaji Alvarez, who was selected by the kidnappers to negotiate for the freedom of the victims.

"I don't know what they will do with the hostages. Let us pray that nothing bad will happen to them," he told the Mindanao Examiner, adding, the kidnappers, angered by the slow progress of the talks with Drilon's family, have tied the hands of Encarnacion and Dinampo.

The elder Isnaji the family of Drilon is negotiating directly with the Abu Sayyaf and even promised to pay ransom to the kidnappers. "The kidnappers told me that the family would pay ransom and that is the basis of their ultimatum. The kidnappers are demanding P15 million," he said.

He said he spoke with Drilon on Monday morning and she appealed anew to fast track the negotiation for their release. "She was crying and appealed again to fast track the negotiations. She said the kidnappers have tied the hands of Encarnacion and Dinampo," Isnaji said.

The ABS-CBN, which rejected paying ransom to the kidnappers, reported that Drilon's family denied negotiating with the Abu Sayyaf.

Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, the head of the local crisis management committee, appealed to negotiators not to pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf. "Paying ransom is not the solution to resolve this hostage crisis, but it will create us more troubles because the Abu Sayyaf can use the money to buy weapons and finance terrorism," he said.

Isnaji briefed Tan on the progress of the negotiations. 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.

"There should only be one negotiator and we cannot continue talking to the kidnappers if other people are also negotiating. So if this continues, I will resign as negotiator and leave everything to them," Isnaji said.

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

On Sunday, soldiers fired about a dozen rounds of cannons toward the hinterlands of Sulu and the military it targeted the group of Sahiron and a leader of the Jemaah Islamiya, Umar Patek.

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 the 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.

Alvarez admitted to have paid a few hundred thousand pesos to the kidnappers with some of the money coming from Sulu Deputy Gov. Nur Ana Sahidulla for the release of Valderama on top of ransom allegedly paid by private negotiators in Manila.

Sahidulla is helping Alvarez secure the freedom of the remaining hostages. She appealed to the kidnappers to free Drilon's group.

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)

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)

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)

Sayyafs Demand P50 Million For Kidnapped TV News Crew In South RP

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 12, 2008) – Abu Sayyaf militants have reportedly demanded as much as P50 million for the safe release of a kidnapped television news crew in the southern Philippine island of Sulu.

Militants are holding award-winning ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and her two cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, including a university professor Octavio Dinampo.

Philippine television giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation said it would not pay ransom to kidnappers, who originally demanded P10 million ransoms. Radio network dzRH in Manila on Thursday said the militants were demanding 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, owned by the Manila Broadcasting Corporation, 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," Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, the provincial police chief, told the Mindanao Examiner.

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.

Kasim also denied news reports the Jemaah Islamiya is holding the hostages. "We have no reports about JI's involvement in the kidnappings. As far as we know, it the group of Parad and Jumdail," he said.

"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.

Police said the hostages are still alive, but it was unclear where the Abu Sayyaf is hiding the victims. The kidnappers have picked an emissary, Isnaji Alvarez, the mayor of Indanan town in Sulu, to negotiate for the release of the hostages, the ABS-CBN reported.

Alvarez, a former Moro National Liberation Front rebel leader, is also one of seven candidates running for the regional governor in the Muslim autonomous region elections in August.

Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, chief of the regional police force, said there are efforts to negotiate with the kidnappers for the release of the hostages. "There are options here and one is to locate the hostages and negotiate for their safe release," he said.

Goltiao said the government has a strict no-ransom policy. He said the police are closely coordinating with Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, the head of the local Crisis Management Committee, in resolving the problem peacefully.

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.

The Philippines' largest Muslim rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, also offered to help secure the release of Drilon's team which arrived in Sulu on June 7 from Zamboanga City. Police said Drilon did not coordinate with them when they arrived in Sulu. She also declined military escorts.

Drilon's group was lodged at the Sulu State College hostel in Jolo town where they took two rooms and left after ordering foods good for 20 people.

Her group was the second from the television network to be kidnapped in Sulu in the past eight years. Reporter Maan Macapagal and her cameraman Val Cuenca were also kidnapped on the island while working on exclusive news on the Abu Sayyaf.

Independent journalist Arlyn dela Cruz was also kidnapped in Sulu while covering the Abu Sayyaf. Another photojournalist Gene Boyd Lumawag was shot in the head by an Abu Sayyaf militant while shooting the sunset in Sulu several years ago.

The Abu Sayyaf had also seized foreign journalists covering the Sipadan kidnapping crisis. Many of those kidnapped were freed after paying huge ransom.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Mindanao Peoples Caucus, Wife Of Kidnapped University Professor Issue Statement

In behalf of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) and the family of Professor Octavio Dinampo, we would like to inform the public that as of thiswriting, he has not returned home yet.

We categorically deny media reports that he has already been released and on that matter "release alone" leaving behind Ms. Ces Drilon and her two camera crew still incaptive.

We find this report very disturbing and could only complicate analready confusing situation.
We appeal to all law enforcers and our leaders to avoid victim-blaming. Obviously, this will not expedite the release of the kidnap victims. Letus treat them with compassion and the respect that they rightly deserve.

Salaam to all the families whom we share the grief and agony of waitingfor the coming home of their loved ones. We pray for peace in the heartsof their captors so that they will finally allow them to return home atthe soonest time possible.

Mary Ann M. Arnado
Secretary-General

Hainatul Octavio
Wife of Professor Octavio Dinampo

Peace Coaliation Airs Concern Over Kidnap Crisis

The Citizens' Peace Watch, a broad multi-sectoral coalition of NGOs, networks, social movements, and individuals working for peace in the country, expresses its concern for Professor Octavio Dinampo and ABS-CBN journalists Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Angelo Valderama who have gone missing in Sulu.

Very little is still known about what has happened. And yet, even as the lives of Professor Dinampo and the others are on the line, insinuations about Professor Dinampo's role in this incident has reached our attention. Some security officials seem to be more concerned about blaming rather than saving the victims. At this time when so little is known and yet the danger so clear, these insinuations are malicious, irresponsible, and unfounded.

We have known Professor Dinampo through the years as a respected academic and concerned citizen who has been tirelessly campaigning for peace in Mindanao and in the country. We have heard him speak in educational forums in universities as well as in conferences. We have worked with him in collective campaigns for peace and justice. Just in February this year, Professor Dinampo hosted us, organizations from around the country, in a fact-finding mission to look into the escalation of violence in Sulu. Nothing from our experience leads us to doubt Professor Dinampo's character and integrity.

Though we are not aware of the particular circumstances that led to the current incident, we have reason to believe that Professor Dinampo's alleged role in helping link up the media with alleged Abu Sayyaf leaders could only have been motivated by his desire for truth and dialogue and his conviction that the public -- through the media – deserves to know the entire truth about the situation in his violence-wracked region. So much disinformation surrounds the war in Mindanao and Professor Dinampo – an academic who is very knowledgeable with the local dynamics and personalities in his war-torn land – has persevered to change that.

Knowing this, we strongly doubt whether Professor Dinampo would do anything that would compromise anyone's safety or be involved in any action that would undermine our shared vision of peace.

As an advocate of peace, Professor Dinampo has spoken against human rights violations and injustices committed in the war. We are afraid that it is for his critical stance that Professor Dinampo is being treated by some in authority as the subject of a dangerous smear campaign rather than as someone who needs help. In this "war on terror" which Professor Dinampo has opposed and of which he has become a casualty, in the climate of impunity that pervades over Sulu, anybody who questions authority is automatically targeted as a "terrorist."

We demand that authorities desist from issuing any unfounded allegations pending a fair and thorough investigation.

We demand that instead of casting unwarranted aspersions on people in danger, authorities should instead focus on finding and saving Professor Dinampo and the ABS-CBN journalists. (Herbert Docena)

ABS-CBN Will Not Pay Ransom For Kidnapped Repoprter, Crew

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 11, 2008) – Philippine television giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation said it would not pay ransom to Abu Sayyaf militants who are holding its news crew.

The Abu Sayyaf is demanding P10 million for the safe release of the hostages, according a military report.

Militants are holding award-winning reporter Ces Drilon and her two cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, including a university professor Octavio Dinampo.

The four were intercepted near the village of Kulasi in Maimbung town on June 8 while on their way to clandestinely 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.

Police said the hostages are still alive, but it was unclear where the Abu Sayyaf is hiding the victims.

“They are alive. We have sources who told us that all four hostages are alive,” Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, commander of police forces in the Muslim autonomous region, told the Mindanao Examiner.

Goltiao said there are efforts to negotiate with the kidnappers for the release of the hostages. “There are options here and the first is to locate the hostages and negotiate for their safe release,” he said.

He said the police are closely coordinating with Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, the head of the local Crisis Management Committee, in resolving the problem peacefully. “Governor Sakur Tan and the crisis committee are working hard to resolve this problem,” he said.

Police have tagged Gafur Jumdail and Albader Parad, a young, but notorious Abu Sayyaf leader who is wanted both by Washington and Manila for terrorism and killings, as behind the kidnappings. “As far as we know, Parad and Gafur are behind the kidnappings,” Goltiao said.

Parad's group was also tagged as behind the kidnapping early this year of Maria Rosalie Lao, 58, a rice trader in Jolo town. He was among the Abu Sayyaf militants that seized 21 people, mostly Asian and European tourists in April, 2000 from the Malaysian island-resort of Sipadan. Last year, Parad's group also kidnapped seven people in Sulu and beheaded them after their families failed to pay up ransom.

Parad is also included in the terror list both of Washington and Manila for his involvement in the spate of terror attacks and kidnappings of foreigners. The US has offered up to $750,000 bounty for Parad’s capture.

The Philippines' largest Muslim rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, also offered to help secure the release of Drilon's team which arrived in Sulu on June 7 from Zamboanga City.

Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim said Drilon did not coordinate with them when they arrived in Sulu. She also declined military escorts. He said the victims were believed taken to the hinterlands of Indanan town.

Drilon's group is billeted at the Sulu State College hostel in Jolo town where they took two rooms and left on Saturday afternoon after ordering foods good for 20 people.

A hotel staff said he saw Drilon hurriedly left and even asked her where she was going. "She was really in a hurry and I even asked her where they were going and Ces Drilon only replied that they would just be nearby. They never came back since Saturday."

Drilon's group was the second from the television network to be kidnapped in Sulu in the past eight years. Reporter Maan Macapagal and her cameraman Val Cuenca were also kidnapped on the island while working on exclusive news on the Abu Sayyaf.

Independent journalist Arlyn dela Cruz was also kidnapped in Sulu while covering the Abu Sayyaf. Another photojournalist Gene Boyd Lumawag was shot in the head by an Abu Sayyaf militant while shooting the sunset in Sulu several years ago.

The Abu Sayyaf had also seized foreign journalists covering the group's kidnapping of 21 Asian and Western holidaymakers from Sabah. It also kidnapped in the past local traders and most of them were freed in exchange for ransom, but many were also raped and killed. (Mindanao Examiner)

Mindanao Peoples Caucus Condemns Kidnapping Of Peace Advocate, Journalists

We, the officers and members of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus strongly condemn the abduction of our Chairman, Prof. Octavio Dinampo, Ces Drilon of ABS-CBN and her crew as we appeal to their abductors to immediately release them unconditionally.

Prof. Octavio is a credible and well-respected leader from Sulu and a leading peace advocate in Mindanao. He has been in the forefront of peace advocacy, good governance and relief and rehabilitation efforts in the conflict affected areas in Mindanao. As a Convener of the Bantay Ceasefire, Prof. Octavio has exemplified the ideals of active non-violence and the values of respect, tolerance and dialogue of life and faith.

Prof. Octavio has served as the link of Sulu to the outside world having developed good relations among civil society and the donor community in rehabilitating the war-ravaged communities in Sulu. He has been a gracious and reliable guide of many visitors to Sulu and had consistently protected his visitors even at the risk of his own life.

We have always felt we are safest in Sulu with Prof. Octavio around us. At this time when he has fallen victim of the very violence that he has been trying to overcome, we readily lend our moral support and prayers as we continue to move mountains and hound the heavens for his safety and early release.

We appeal to the law enforcers and the military to exhaust all peaceful and traditional methods of negotiation in working out the release of the kidnap victims. We also call on our religious leaders from both the Christian and Muslim faiths to extend whatever possible support. Let this crisis see the strength of our solidarity and dialogue as brothers and sisters in Mindanao.

We wish to extend our prayers and support to the families and loved ones of the kidnap victims. Rest assured the MPC will mobilize its Bantay Ceasefire volunteers, peace networks and allies especially among the grassroots to reclaim the freedom of our Chairman Prof. Octavio, Ces Drilon and her companions. Finally, we all join our hands and ask God, Allah and Magbabaya to bless and grant our prayers.

Atty. Mary Ann Aranado
MPC, Secretary-General