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Friday, June 13, 2008
Ransom for Ces Drilon's group raised to P20M
By Bong P. Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits who seized a television news team and their guide in the island province of Sulu have doubled their ransom demand to P20 million in exchange for the release of the hostages.
The Abu Sayyaf bandits are holding captive ABS-CBN senior reporter Ces Oreña-Drilon, her crewmembers Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and their guide Professor Octavio Dinampo of Mindanao State University.
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The bandits led by Al-bader Parad seized Drilon and the three others in Barangay Kulasi, Maimbung. They were reportedly on their way to interview Indonesian terrorist Omar Patek.
The interview was arranged by Dinampo, a peace advocate.
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Gov't: No ransom policy in Ces Drilon kidnap case
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Reliable sources disclosed that the ransom was increased to P20 million Wednesday from the initial ransom demand of P10 million.
Sources said the amount was doubled after Parad reportedly turned over the hostages to another faction of the Abu Sayyaf.
It was not known however which new faction is now keeping the hostages.
Parad is one of mid-level Abu Sayyaf leaders involved in the mass kidnapping of 21 people -- 10 Europeans and 11 Asians -- on April of 2000 from the Sipadan Island dive resort in Malaysia.
The Abu Sayyaf bandits separated into factions after the death of the group's emir, Khadaffy Janjalani, two years ago.
Parad reportedly handed over the hostages to another group after learning that ABS-CBN has ruled out paying ransom in exchange for the release of Drilon, Encarnacion, and Valderama.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) Police Director Joel Goltiao said Thursday he could not confirm if the hostages were indeed turned over to another Abu Sayyaf faction.
"What we know is that it is the same group (of Abu Sayyaf) that is holding them captive," Goltiao said.
Goltiao refused to comment on the increase in ransom demand.
A crisis management committee was formed to work for the release of the hostages.
The committee is the only group tasked to negotiate a deal with the rebels. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (June 13, 2008 issue)
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