Ces Drilon, 2 others freed by kidnappers

Jolo, Sulu--Kidnapped television reporter Ces Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo were freed late Tuesday night, nine days after they were abducted in Sulu province.

Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon confirmed that the hostages were released at around 11 p.m. Tuesday.

"They were picked up by Jun Isnaji and secured by four policemen at Sitio Danasi, lower Sinumaan, Talipao, Sulo and brought to the house of Mayor Alvarez Isnaji," Razon related in a text message.

"Ces Drilon and company are in good condition but they will immediately be given medical attention and appropriate nutrition. Airlift plan to Zamboanga ongoing and reunion with family will be arranged," said Razon.

He said the three will have to first undergo a debriefing in Zamboanga City before they are flown back to Manila.

In a phone interview, Razon claimed that no ransom had been paid for the release of Drilon and her two companions who were kidnapped in Maimbung, Sulu, on June 8 while they were on the way to interview a top commander of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. The three were released by their abductors, who were believed to be Abu Sayyaf members.

Another ABS-CBN cameraman, Angelo Valderama, was originally with the group that was kidnapped but was released on June 12 after a P2-million ransom was reportedly paid.

The release of the hostages, Razon claimed, was merely "due to the persistent and persuasive efforts of the local crisis committee under Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and Governor Sakur Tan," and that no money had been given to the kidnappers, despite their P15-million ransom demand that was to have been paid Tuesday noon.

Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, police director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), also confirmed the release of the kidnap victims but declined to provide additional details.

"Ces, Jimmy, and Angelo are finally all free," ABS-CBN said in a statement. "We are thankful our prayers have been answered and our efforts rewarded."

"Above all, the release of Ces, Jimmy, and Angelo could not have been possible without the cooperation of the people of Sulu and their local government. We thank them and share their hope for enduring peace in Mindanao," the statement added.

Razon meanwhile said he had no idea Senator Loren Legarda was part of the negotiations.
"Ces is free. She is resting. Soon, she will be in the hands of her family," Legarda, who claimed she also negotiated for the release of the hostages, told dzMM radio.

Legarda said the refusal of the victims' families to pay ransom, and an imminent military operation, were the breakthrough that led to the release.

"Nung malaman nilang wala silang makukuha [When they realized they won't be getting anything], they were pushed against the wall. Wala na silang mapuntahan [They had nowhere to run]," Legarda said.

"The military operations in the past few days helped," she said.

The senator said she was in constant contact with Drilon, who put her on speakerphone for her captors to hear.

At one point, Legarda said Drilon told her over the phone crying: "Loren, tell me if you guys can't do it so I can accept my fate that they will behead us."

Legarda said Drilon told her that Encarnacion's hands were tied and was being prepared for beheading at one point.

It was at that instant that "I pressured them, I cajoled them, I appealed to them, I even threatened them. They should be freed," Legarda related.

Legarda said Drilon's group was "very upbeat and calm" though tired from the five-hour-long trek from the Sulu hinterlands.

Razon said that if there was any lesson from the kidnapping, it was also to properly exercise press freedom.

"Ang aral po dito laging sinasabi hindi natin puwedeng i-exercise press freedom na malalagay ang [The lesson here is we can't exercise press freedom by putting] reporters or journalists in harm's way, na hawak ng terrorista or criminal elements," said Razon. (Joel Guinto, Thea Alberto; Update3, INQ.net)