Friday, June 13, 2008 Sulu abductors 'barbaric': Dureza By Carlo P. Mallo
INCOMING Press Secretary Jesus Dureza called the abductors of television news anchor and journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon, her cameramen, and a Mindanao State University professor as barbaric and inhumane, as he assured reporters that government is doing its part to work for the release of the victims.
Dureza, however, refused to reveal the steps being taken by the Arroyo administration for the release.
"Efforts are underway for her safe release," was all Dureza would say in an interview Thursday morning during the Araw ng Kalayaan celebrations here in Davao City.
The only assurance that Dureza gave was that no action would be done that will in any way compromise the safety of the abducted television journalist and her crew.
"No activity will be launched that will endanger her life," Dureza said. "It is very unfortunate that this happened to her," Dureza said, even as he explained that the media has to a certain extent "glamorized" the work of the "bad guys."
Dureza also said the government and ABS-CBN, the network that Drilon works for, will impose the no ransom policy even as the unknown group behind the abduction of the television journalist has already demanded a P10 million ransom for the release of the television reporter and her crew.
"The government will not negotiate with terrorists, and no ransom will be paid," Dureza said.
Just on Thursday, the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) reported that the company would abide by its no-ransom policy and would not give in to the demand of the abductors.
A copy of the official statement of ABS-CBN, as made available on ABS-CBN News Online, 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. 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. We ask the nation for your prayers and request our colleagues in media to join ABS-CBN News in condemning this unconscionable attack against journalists. We thank everyone for the outpouring of support we have received in this most difficult time."
Moreover, Dureza also said the abduction of Drilon is very much a part of the risks that a journalist faces in delivering the story to the public.
"This is much undeserved (by Drilon)," Dureza said. The press secretary described the television journalist as someone whose interest is only to get the stories and inform the public.
The journalist was with her guide, MSU professor and Mindanao Peoples Caucus chair Octavio Dinampo, when she and the others were seized in Sulu.
