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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Captors extend deadline for ransom payment
MANILA (Updated 1:30 p.m.) -- Al-Qaeda-linked militants extended a Tuesday deadline for a ransom payment to free a TV news anchor and her cameraman kidnapped in the southern Philippines, a negotiator said.
Government forces are also on standby for any contingencies that may arise in relation to the abduction of Ces Drilon's news team by suspected Abu Sayyaf members.
The kidnappers, whom police have identified as Abu Sayyaf militants, earlier set the deadline at noon Tuesday for the payment of a 15-million peso ransom for Drilon, her cameraman and a university professor. They had threatened to behead the hostages two hours later if the ransom is not paid, one of the negotiators, Jun Isnaji, told reporters in southern Jolo island.
Isnaji said the abductors did not set a new deadline, but agreed to continue talks. Isnaji has been negotiating with the kidnappers with his father, Alvarez Isnaji, who is mayor of Sulu province's Indanan township.
Isnaji said he couldn't say for sure that the deadline had been extended, but that the kidnappers said they "will not do anything until 2 o'clock because we are still negotiating."
"Their ultimatum (Tuesday) was negotiation until 12 o'clock, and if there is no agreement by 12, they will do something," Isnaji said in a news briefing broadcast by ABS-CBN's radio station dzMM.
"They said they will behead them. But today, they are not saying that anymore," he added.
Isnaji said he had been on the phone with the kidnappers around six times beginning with their first call at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday.
"I said, 'Maybe you can come up with some proposals besides the money... because if you insist on the money we cannot deliver on that,"' he said. "We have come up with a new idea that we will provide them with something else."
DZMM reported that the negotiators broached the idea of funding livelihood projects for the abductors.
Meanwhile, PNP Spokesman Nicanor Bartolome said in a press conference Tuesday said the PNP is now preparing for any contingencies that may arise in relation to Drilon's abduction.
According to Bartolome, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon arrived in Zamboanga on Tuesday and called for a security briefing with police and military forces in the area.
Razon issued guidance after the security briefing, including the drafting of a contingency plan and putting in place ground troops including air and naval assets.
Bartolome also presented the artist sketches of Sulayman Patta, who goes by the aliases Amah Ma'as and Abu Haris, and a man named Walid, alias Tuan Wais, as among the kidnappers.
Police announced a P500,000 reward for any information that may lead to the arrest of the two suspects.
The deadline was extended as the journalists' families made several tearful appeals on radio for the hostages' lives to be spared.
ABS-CBN, the country's largest television network, said Monday it was doing everything it could to help the hostages and their families through the ordeal, but that the company would not pay ransom because it would embolden kidnap groups to abduct other journalists.
Drilon, her two cameramen and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo were abducted June 8 on Jolo by gunmen believed to be Abu Sayyaf members, police officials said.
The US lists the Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist group responsible for bombings, beheadings and abductions.
Angelo Valderama, one of two cameramen snatched, was released Thursday. Mayor Isnaji said Valderama was freed after the kidnappers were paid a "minimal amount" for the hostages' food expenses. (AP/Sunnex)
Related stories:
Reward up for arrest of Ces Drilon's captors
Abu Sayyaf bandits want P15-M ransom by Tuesday
Ces Drilon kidnappers issue ultimatum
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (June 17, 2008 issue)
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