This running story first broke on the news wires of the Associated Press and is being carried both by the International Herald Tribune, with at least two local broadsheets bannering the report despite a news blackout clamped by police authorities and, in journalistic parlance, a story embargo requested by ABS-CBN, a practice normally honored by all journalists.
However, with the AP having broken the embargo first and both Tribune and SunStar Daily Cebu running it, along with IHT, this writer is now sharing these details after having confirmed the same from my own sources in the mainstream working press in Manila:
Ces Drilon and her two-member news crew went missing Saturday, June 7 but our sources confirmed they had actually been “abducted” after ABS-CBN network receIved the ransom demand. The story was also broken to media by the ARMM police chief Joel Goltiao. A text message is making the rounds quoting a ransom price considerably higher than that being reported by the Daily Tribune.
It remains unclear but it is reported that a certain Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo was in touch or was traveling with the ABS-CBN team of Ces. My sources tell me Ces herself decided last Saturday to go on the coverage based on the tip that an unnamed ASG personality was “going to surrender.”
From the media reports now emerging, on Sunday morning Dinampo picked them up from the Mindanao State University hostel, and armed men identified as being under a certain ASG commander Albader Parad intercepted them as their vehicle passed through Kulasi village, ARMM police chief Joel Goltiao said.
The Maimbung police chief reported sightings in the Kulasi area and of people with a video camera inside a vehicle.
The Daily Tribune report written by its editor in chief, the feisty Ninez Cacho Olivares says the newspaper’s “intelligence sorce Drilon and her group “were last tracked somewhere at the foothills of Mt. Tumatangis, Indanan Sulu.
“We convened the provincial crisis management committee to send feelers to negotiate with the abductors, but the abductors have not yet said anything,” ARMM police chief Goltiao said by telephone, according to an AP wire story.
The report gives this further background: “Abu Sayyaf is estimated to have 380 fighters, down from more than 1,000 eight years ago. It has been weakened by U.S.-backed military offensives that have led to the killing and capture of many of its leaders and members.”
“But police said the militants have continued to plot attacks, including against U.S. soldiers who have been providing counter-terrorism training to Filipino troops in Jolo and nearby provinces.
Washington has blacklisted Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist group for bombings, kidnappings and beheadings, such as the 2001 abduction from a resort island of 21 people who included three Americans.
Philippine military and police officials say the group which seeks a separate state for the country’s Muslim minority has received training and funds from al-Qaeda militants in the past.”
My own sources from at least two other major publications confirm the other details while ABS-CBN is set to issue an official statement on this breaking news within the day.
This writer knows Ces personally, having worked with her at the government-run Maharlike Broadcasting System, now NBN Channel 4, before EDSA 1. She is married to painter Rock Drilon, a nephew of former senate president Franklin Drilon.
This turn of events adds a disturbing dimension to the situation in Mindanao, coming as it does after the spate of bombings in Zamboanga and the Lanao provinces, and the skirmishes in Basilan involving either MILF, MNLF or Abu Sayyaf elements.
Whether authorities call these incidents terrorist attacks or banditry, the aspect of even working journalists being dragged into the fray despite their being civilian ‘non-combatants’ speaks volumes about the volatility of the situation and the lack of control government has in the troubled South.
A new report from the Cebu Sunstar now says ,”he MILF, in confirming Drilon’s abduction, reported that the television reporter’s group was kidnapped by an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader, a certain Gafur Gumbahali.
Gafur, the report added, is the brother of dreaded Abu Sayyaf leader Dr. Abu Jumdail Gumbahali.”
We are sure the official line is that government will never negotiate with kidnappers, but the reality is different with conduits and back channels always the alternatives.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a statement expressing its concern for the safety of the ABS-CBN crew.
Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, said. “It is great cause for concern that this volatile southern region of the Philippines remains insecure for the press, and we call on local authorities to work diligently to secure their safe and swift release.”The foremost consideration always is the safe recovery of the victims.
(Latest reports say even political science professor Dinampo was taken by the Abu Sayyaf abdectors of Drilon and her news crew.
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2008/06/10/the-abduction-of-ces-orena-drilon/
http://www.filipinovoices.com/ces-drilon-kidnapping-a-publicity-stunt-by-the-asg
Ces Drilon kidnapping, A Publicity Stunt By The ASG?
ABS-CBN anchor Ces Drilon and her crew went missing last Saturday, June 7. Reports say they were abducted by armed men believed to be Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members somewhere in Kulasi area, a known ASG territory. Other reports indicate a possible ransom demand already given to ABS-CBN.
As an avid observer on Mindanao affairs, having covered the Sipadan hostage crisis and other incidents in the past, this incident means three (3) things: First, the abduction was a publicity stunt by the ASG to again gain media mileage. Second, the reason maybe to announce something big related to the impending war in Mindanao. And third, it could be that Drilon was made as an unwilling pawn to further promote the propaganda that the ASG still exists in that part of the world.
Remember that prior to Drilon’s kidnapping, the ASG has kidnapped a Chinoy businessman and some locals there. It was’nt covered by the media to an extent that we are covering this latest caper. The news that a celebrated media personality has been kidnapped is certain to be covered by other news agencies around the globe.
I believe that within the next few days, Ces and her crew will be released by the ASG. They will be able to present their interviews on the terrorist group.
What is disturbing though is if Ces was kidnapped by pseudo members of the ASG. There are persistent reports indicating that the military created their own ASG and if Jundain was involved in the kidnapping, this may probably be the case. Jundain was a former MNLF integree who recently joined the group. As a reporter, I met Jundain on several occasions when we were covering the Sipadan hostage crisis. At that time, Jundain served as a link between the military and the ASG.
If Pader and Jundain did, indeed, led the group who abducted Ces, then, there’s a possibility that she ‘ll be used by military agents posing as ASG members. Based on my studies on the ASG, it has already morphed into a highly religious jihadist group after a series of indoctrination by the Jemaah Islamiyah. They already renounced kidnapping as a mode of struggle. Probably, the reason of the kidnapping is more than money.
Ces is the third local journalist kidnapped by the ASG, the first being another ABS-CBN crew who were ransomed for a few millions during the Sipadan crisis and Inquirer correspondent Arlyn dela Cruz. Noli de Castro and his group of media personalities were nearly held hostage by the ASG when they visited the camp before.
It is interesting though to learn more about the ASG of today, what with the death of their leader Khadaffy Janjalani and other ASG luminaries. Ces could provide an indepth look into the existing organization after a bitter power struggle between the JI-trained leadership and the local bandit leaders. It is also interesting to know the thoughts of the current leadership and their stand on the peace process and the possible outbreak of hostilities in Sulu.
However, I would like to enjoin our Moro brothers there in Sulu to exercise all possible means to secure the safety of Ces Drilon and her crew. Those who are members of the ASG, we say, don’t do something foolish. It will not help your cause if you harm Ces and her crew. Do not harm the messenger.
CMFR Philippines Alert:
Three journalists abducted by terrorist group
CMFR/Philippines—Three journalists from a major media network along with their source have been missing since 8 June 2008 in Sulu, Mindanao, and are believed to have been abducted by the Abu Sayyaf, the terrorist group based in Southern Philippines. Sulu is an island approximately 1,000 km south of Manila.
ABS-CBN network released a statement on 10 June 2008 stating that senior correspondent Cecilia Victoria “Ces” Oreña-Drilon and cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama were “missing in Sulu,” Together with Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo, who had invited the three journalists to Sulu.
ABS-CBN said in a statement that “(a)ll efforts are underway to find them and bring them home.”
“Until we learn more details, ABS-CBN requests other media to report on this matter with utmost consideration for the safety of our news team. ABS-CBN News is in touch with the families and asks that their privacy be respected,” the network said.
In a report by online news site Inquirer.net, Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, police regional director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, was quoted as saying the three media practitioners and Dinampo were intercepted Sunday in Maimbung, a town in Jolo, Sulu, by armed men under Albader Parader, an Abu Sayyaf leader in the area. The group was reportedly intercepted after their vehicle left a university hostel.
There has been no confirmed report of any ransom demands.
Drilon is a familiar face in Philippine TV news. She has been 12 years in broadcasting, according to her profile on the ABS-CBN website. She received the New Breed Reporter of the Year Award in the 1995 New Breed Awards for Television Broadcast Journalism Excellence, and was one of the awardees in the The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service in 2004.
The Abu Sayyaf has carried out bombings and high-profile kidnappings and beheadings in the Philippines.
In 2000, ABS-CBN cameraman Val Cuenca and researcher/writer Maan Macapagal were kidnapped in Jolo by the Abu Sayyaf while they were covering an Abu Sayyaf kidnapping. Around 21 hostages had been kidnapped by the Abu Sayaff from a diving resort in Sidapan, Malaysia.
Cuenca and Macapagal were released after nearly a week in captivity after negotiations, with ABS-CBN, which said that no ransom was paid. In the same month, 10 foreign journalists who were reporting on the same hostage incident were also abducted in Jolo. They were released only after they had been divested of their equipment and valuables.
Two journalists from France— Jean-Jacques Le Garrec, Roland Madura—were also abducted in July 2000 by the Abu Sayyaf. Garrec and Madura managed to flee after they escaped during dark days after their abduction.
Freelance journalist Arlyn dela Cruz was also abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu April 2002.
http://www.cmfr.com.ph/_alerts/2008/jun_02.html
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GMA orders rescue of Ces |
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MILF offers information, help in kidnapping case |
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By Angelo S. Samonte Reporter President Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday ordered the military and national police to exhaust all means to locate and secure the “missing” group of broadcaster Ces Oreña-Drilon in Sulu. Palace Deputy Spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said, “This [the incident] can give a bad signal because Ms. Drilon is a very popular figure in the country. So we will not let our officials go easy on this case.” Police and military were scouring the southern island of Jolo Tuesday for Drilon and her companions, according to an Agence France-Presse report. Authorities are not yet considering the incident as a kidnapping case, Fajardo said. “The initial report is that she is still missing. But of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that they were kidnapped.” The Palace also appealed to the media for “caution and restraint” in reporting the kidnapping of Drilon and her crew to ensure their safety while rescue efforts are ongoing. In a separate statement, Deputy Palace Spokesman Anthony Golez said Malacañang condemns the kidnapping and assured the public that the police are doing all they can to run after the perpetrators and “bring the victims home alive and well.” The Armed Forces of the Philippines has been directed to share intelligence information with the police, which would lead to the capture of the group that seized Drilon and her team. Early Tuesday, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. would only confirm that Drilon and her two cameramen, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, are “missing” in Sulu. “All efforts are under way to find them and bring them home. Until we learn more details, ABS-CBN News requests other media to report on this matter with utmost consideration for the safety of our news team,” the ABS-CBN statement added. A political science professor from Mindanao State University, Octavio Dinampo, was also with the journalists. No ransom demand has been made public, but unconfirmed reports say the kidnappers are asking for between P10 million and P20 million for the safe release of Drilon’s group. MILF offers help The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it is ready to help authorities in monitoring the whereabouts of Drilon’s group and will work for their immediate release. The separatist group said it has formed a special team, headed by a political officer, to monitor the developments in Sulu. Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, said the group has learned that Drilon’s group was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Gafur Gumbahali in Kulasi village in Maimbung town Sunday morning. Gafur is the brother of Abu Sayyaf leader Dr. Abu Jumdail Gumbahali, according to a report. Drilon is the third local journalist to be kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf since 2000. Although numbering just a few hundreds, the group has been responsible for some of the country’s worst terrorist attacks. Over the past 18 months, its leadership has been weakened by a massive offensive by the Philippine military aided by US Special Forces advisers. Most of the group’s leaders have either been killed or captured. Letter to DOJ The leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, Commander Radullon Sahiron, has expressed his interest to surrender, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said also on Tuesday. He said he has received a “negotiation letter” from Sahiron about three weeks ago, which was followed up days later by an “unnamed emissary.” Gonzalez added that he had the letter “authenticated” to determine if it really came from Sahiron. The Justice chief said Sahiron was asking for “cash payment for their firearms, some form of amnesty, livelihood assistance and immunity,” among others in exchange for his and his followers’ surrender. “[But] it’s the government who will set up conditions, if there are any,” he said, adding that Sulu Rep. Yusuf Yakiri is assisting in the negotiation process. Gonzalez said he has informed the President about Sahiron’s letter and was advised to exercise caution in dealing with a terrorist group. He added that he is willing to give the Abu Sayyaf leader a safe conduct pass if he is willing to have a face-to-face meeting with him. Sahiron took command of the Abu Sayyaf following the death of Khadaffy Janjalani in September 2006. The US government has placed a $5-million bounty for Sahiron’s arrest—dead or alive. Sahiron, 70, is widely respected among terrorists worldwide. But because of his failing health, analysts doubt his ability to lead the group of bandits. Sahiron is one of the most-wanted men in the Philippines. He lost his right hand fighting security forces in the 1970s. Gonzalez said, though, his disclosure of Sahiron’s intent to surrender has nothing to do with the kidnapping of Ces Drilon and her companions. |
‘Ces Drilon, crew alive and well’
Yano said they continue to monitor the situation. He declined to elaborate.
He also refused to answer on whether the military is already in contact with the kidnappers of the ABS-CBN News team.
The military’s initial findings said it was possible that the bandit group Abu Sayyaf is behind the abduction. He, however, said the military has yet to confirm this.
The AFP said it will implement a “no ransom policy” as the military does not negotiate with terrorists.
Meanwhile, in a related report, correspondent Noel Alamar also said that Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama are well despite being in captivity since Sunday.
Alamar, who is now in Sulu, said he received this information from an emissary.
He added that Drilon, Encarnacion and Valderama are somewhere in the tri-boundary of Indanan, Talipao and Maimbung towns.
The information also said that the hands of Encarnacion and Valderama were bound during first day of captivity but the three of them can now freely move around with less restriction.
Alamar also reported that the kidnappers did not hurt the three since they were kidnapped on June 8. Along with the three, their guide, Prof. Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State University, was kidnapped.
The suspects, he learned were also asking for a certain negotiator which Alamar declined to name until he verify’s the report with that individual he said.
ABS-CBN had requested earlier in statements to media to report the matter with utmost consideration for the safety of the victims.
It added: “ABS-CBN News is doing everything it can to help the families of its kidnapped journalists through this harrowing ordeal.”
“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,” the statement said.
Caution
“Journalists shouldn’t ask the authorities questions like ‘What are you doing? Obviously, this will ruin whatever they (police) are planning, and this will give abductors the idea,” she said.
FOCAP statement
Meanwhile, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) joined colleagues in calling for the immediate release of Drilon and her crew.
“We join our colleagues in calling for the immediate release of members of the ABS-CBN news team who have been abducted while on coverage in Sulu,” it said in a statement issued Thursday.
The group also urged authorities to manage the crisis well and always consider the safety of the hostages’ lives.
“We urge the authorities to carefully manage the crisis and not allow the situation to deteriorate to a point that can place the lives of Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, Angelo Valderama and Prof. Octavio Dimampo in greater jeopardy,” the group said.
FOCAP said journalists should be free to cover events without harm or hostile action from any party since they are only doing their jobs.
Earlier this week, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and international media groups aired their concern and call for the safe release of the three journalistsVeteran broadcast journalist Ces Drilon and her crew are alive and well despite being held hostage in the mountains of Sulu province, radio dzMM reported Thursday morning.
Correspondent Ruby Tayag reported that the good news was also confirmed by Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Alexander Yano.
According to Yano, local officials in Sulu, who are also members of the crisis committee handling the case, said there is proof of life.
Yano said they continue to monitor the situation. He declined to elaborate.
He also refused to answer on whether the military is already in contact with the kidnappers of the ABS-CBN News team.
The military’s initial findings said it was possible that the bandit group Abu Sayyaf is behind the abduction. He, however, said the military has yet to confirm this.
The AFP said it will implement a “no ransom policy” as the military does not negotiate with terrorists.
Meanwhile, in a related report, correspondent Noel Alamar also said that Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama are well despite being in captivity since Sunday.
Alamar, who is now in Sulu, said he received this information from an emissary.
He added that Drilon, Encarnacion and Valderama are somewhere in the tri-boundary of Indanan, Talipao and Maimbung towns.
The information also said that the hands of Encarnacion and Valderama were bound during first day of captivity but the three of them can now freely move around with less restriction.
Alamar also reported that the kidnappers did not hurt the three since they were kidnapped on June 8. Along with the three, their guide, Prof. Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State University, was kidnapped.
The suspects, he learned were also asking for a certain negotiator which Alamar declined to name until he verify’s the report with that individual he said.
ABS-CBN had requested earlier in statements to media to report the matter with utmost consideration for the safety of the victims.
It added: “ABS-CBN News is doing everything it can to help the families of its kidnapped journalists through this harrowing ordeal.”
“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,” the statement said.
Caution
On Wednesday, the Citizen’s Action Against Crime appealed to media to practice caution in reporting about incident.
“Media should report only the facts. We asked them not to report their speculations. This is a very sensitive case. Our group always believe that in every kidnapping situation, the victim is the paramount concern, nothing else”, Teresita Ang-See, head of CAAC, said in a dzMM interview.
See also added that the case should be dealt with discreetly and prudently.
“Journalists shouldn’t ask the authorities questions like ‘What are you doing? Obviously, this will ruin whatever they (police) are planning, and this will give abductors the idea,” she said.
FOCAP statement
Meanwhile, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) joined colleagues in calling for the immediate release of Drilon and her crew.
“We join our colleagues in calling for the immediate release of members of the ABS-CBN news team who have been abducted while on coverage in Sulu,” it said in a statement issued Thursday.
The group also urged authorities to manage the crisis well and always consider the safety of the hostages’ lives.
“We urge the authorities to carefully manage the crisis and not allow the situation to deteriorate to a point that can place the lives of Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, Angelo Valderama and Prof. Octavio Dimampo in greater jeopardy,” the group said.
FOCAP said journalists should be free to cover events without harm or hostile action from any party since they are only doing their jobs.
Earlier this week, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and international media groups aired their concern and call for the safe release of the three journalists
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=121500
Ces Drilon et al’s first decent breakfast is ‘lugaw’
Freed ABS-CBN senior correspondent Ces Drilon ate plain “lugaw” (rice porridge), her first decent breakfast after being held in captivity for nine days in the hinterlands of Sulu island by the Qaeda-linked terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.
“Nag-agahan na rin [sila] ng lugaw after one week of eating noodles sa bundok,” Razon told radio dzMM. “They were so happy.”
The police chief said Drilon and the others have undergone medical examinations at the police headquarters in Zamboanga City, where they were flown in after being released by their abductors in Talipao town in Sulu Tuesday night.
Razon said doctors told them that Drilon was suffering from low blood pressure due to lack of sleep. He said the television journalist was “very pale” and had many mosquito bites.
The police official said Drilon, Encarnacion and Dinampo were all in good health. He said the three had to undergo further debriefing and would have to tell authorities the full details of their abduction.
Razon said the Abu Sayyaf Group, which the ABS-CBN crew tried to interview, was the same group that kidnapped them.
Twice threatened of beheading
Razon said Drilon was not hurt by her captors contrary to earlier reports. He also said no ransom was paid.
“As far as we know, there was no money involved. No ransom was paid,” he said.
The kidnappers earlier gave an ultimatum to negotiators to bring P15 million in exchange for Drilon’s release by Tuesday noon. The ultimatum was extended until the release.
The police chief said the kidnappers threatened to behead Drilon and the two other captives twice, but, obviously, “they did not do it.”
He said the kidnappers were “pressured” to release the kidnappers because of the negotiations initiated by the Sulu crisis committee headed by Vice-Gov. Lady Ann Sahidula and Indanan town Mayor Alvarez Isnaji.
Another factor, he said, was the pressure of “possible military, police operations.”
The victims were released by the kidnappers to Isnaji before 11 p.m. Tuesday. The three were escorted to the mayor’s home..
From the mayor’s home, they were fetched by Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, Task Force Comet commander in Jolo, and transported to Zamboanga by helicopter.
“Kasama na niya ngayon ang mga kapatid niya,” the police official said.
Razon said he a long talk with Drilon upon her arrival at the Edwin Andrews Air Base before dawn Wednesday.
He said Drilon and the other victims had already given them minor details of the kidnapping. He said the three were certain that Abu Sayyaf members kidnapped them.
Razon added that the police already have details of the areas where the ABS-CBN news crew and the professor were kept by their kidnappers.
“We will use this [information] in our police operations,” he said.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=122118
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=122140
