Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Senator frowns on ransom for Ces Drilon
SENATOR Francis "Chiz" Escudero expressed his reservations about the reported payment of ransom for the release of ABS-CBN senior reporter Ces Oreña-Drilon, cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and their guide Professor Octavio Dinampo from their abductors in the island province of Sulu.
"The money will be used against our soldiers and the police, hindi naman tama yun," Esucdero told reporters Friday.
Drilon and the other three captives were released after a reported P20-million ransom was paid.
The Arroyo administration insists that the payment of ransom was made by private individuals, including the families of the hostages, and not by the government, which has imposed a no-ransom policy.
The senator added that crime should not pay, but in this instance, it seems to him that the contrary happened.
Escudero also does not find any link between the hostages' release shortly before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left for her State Visit to the United States of America last Saturday wherein she was scheduled to meet US President George W. Bush.
"Coincidence lang yun, mahirap naman i-predict kung kelan, nagkataon lang siguro (It's pure coincidence, it's never easy to predict the exact date of a release)," Escudero said. (CPM)
