PNP affidavit bolsters 2nd ransom paid

It's not just P5 million.

Documents from the Philippine National Police obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Friday bolstered reports that, indeed, another batch of money was paid for the freedom of ABS-CBN senior reporter Ces Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Prof. Octavio Dinampo.

According to an affidavit of Supt. Winnie Quidato, at around 4 o'clock in the afternoon of June 17, Quidato received a phone call from Haider Isnaji, son of Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, informing him that Atty. Nasser Ynawat, a Sulu board member, already had a second batch of ransom money but that it was being intercepted by Sulu police commander Sr. Supt. Julasirim Kasim.
"Jun [Haider's nickname] suggested to me that as representative of the DILG, I must intercede, otherwise something bad might happen to the victims," Quidato said.

Quidato, it was later revealed, posed as a civilian from the Department of Interior and Local Government sent to Sulu to coordinate the negotiations.

Quidato said he "berated" Jun for conducting "secret negotiations" related to the payment of ransom money.

Quidato said he informed the PNP Intelligence Group head, Chief Supt. Rolando Anonuevo, of the developments. Anonuevo said he would coordinate with Kasim.

Quidato then proceeded to the Sulu provincial police headquarters, where he met Ynawat and Mayor Isnaji. Isnaji introduced Ynawat to Quidato as his [the mayor's] lawyer.

The undetermined amount of money was then turned over by Kasim to Isnaji and Ynawat, after which they all proceeded to the residence of Khan Isnaji, a son of the mayor.

"The ransom money was delivered by Jun on the evening of June 17, 2008, escorted by the undersigned, the security escorts of Mayor Isnaji and the members of the Sulu police," Quidato said in his affidavit.

Two duffel bags

Later that night, Drilon and the others were released.

The Inquirer managed to photograph the landing of a SEAIR aircraft at the Jolo airport at around 4 p.m. on June 17. The plane was believed carrying two duffel bags that were then unloaded from the aircraft.

One of the pictures shows Ynawat and Kasim in deep conversation.What did Kasim say?
PNP Chief Director General Avelino Razon said Friday that the police would investigate the landing of the aircraft and the contents of the duffel bags.

Razon said investigators had already asked Kasim about the incident but the PNP chief did not reveal what Kasim said.

Razon also said the police were looking for Ynawat to question him.(By Alcuin Papa; INQ.net)