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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Reward up for arrest of Ces Drilon's captors
MANILA -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has approved a P500,000 bounty for the arrest of two Abu Sayyaf terrorists involved in the kidnapping of ABS-CBN senior reporter Ces Oreña-Drilon, her cameraman, and a professor in Maimbung, Sulu.
Police Community Relations Group Chief Sukarno Ikbala Jr. named the two Abu Sayyaf men with the bounty as Sulayman Patta alias Amah Maas and Abu Harris and certain Walis alias Tuan Wals.
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"Two more ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) suspects were identified to have been involved in the kidnapping of Ms. Ces Drilon and crew. Today, the reward of P500,000 each had been approved by the DILG for any information that would lead to the capture of said suspects," said Ikbala.
Drilon, her cameramen -- Angelo Valderama and Jimmy Encarnacion -- and Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo were seized by the Abu Sayyaf in Mambung town on June 8. Valderama was released by the terrorists last Thursday night.
Related stories:
Abu Sayyaf bandits want P15-M ransom by Tuesday
Ces Drilon kidnappers issue ultimatum
Police said the kidnappers were under Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Albader Parad and Gafur Jumdail.
Parad has a US$15,000 for his neutralization while it was not immediately clear if there is an existing bounty for Jumdail, a son of Abu Sayyaf leader Dr. Abu.
Ikbala appealed to Sulu Governor Sakur Tan and Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji to do their best in securing the freedom of the remaining hostages. Tan and Isnaji are part of the crisis management committee trying to negotiate for the release of the hostages.
"As a Muslim PNP (Philippine National Police) officer, I urge Governor Sakur Tan and Mayor Alvarez Isnaji to exercise their leadership and responsibility and explore all measures to bring about the immediate resolution of this case," said Ikbala.
He assured the two local executives that the PNP is supporting the efforts they are undertaking. "The full force of the PNP will be behind the efforts of the Peace and Order Councils under the governor and the mayor," Ikbala said.
He added: "We are hopeful that the crisis will be resolved peacefully without harm to everyone. The crisis committee is monitoring the situation closely. The negotiations are acting on their own capacity. If the negotiation is the only peaceful way out, we will give it a chance."
"Our priority is to ensure the safety of the hostages. We are concerned about their health especially that they are not used to jungle environment. We are also initiating some security measures to prevent the situation from getting out of control. We appreciate the cooperation of the media and other sectors with the existing security measures being implemented in Sulu," he said.
Meanwhile, new Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the ultimatum issued by abductors of Drilon and two others should be taken seriously given their records of atrocities.
Dureza, however, said the "no ransom policy of the government continues to be enforced and they welcome the agreement and compliance of ABS-CBN news network, where Drilon and Encarnacion belong to, with the policy."
"I'm not so sure whether I know exactly what's in the minds of these terrorists, but the ultimatum is something that we should not take lightly. They have a long record of atrocities in the past, and everybody knows this. So we take that into heart, and perhaps we hope that Ces (Drilon) and the group that are still being held there will be able to return home safely," Dureza said.
Isnaji earlier said the Abu Sayyaf Group has given an ultimatum until noon of Tuesday, demanding a ransom of P15 million in exchange for the release of the three hostages.
Dureza confirmed the ransom demand, but stressed that, "the no ransom policy of the government stands. It has not changed."
"We are really hoping. It's not only just optimism. We are hoping and working for her (Drilon) safe return," he added, assuring that the government is also exhausting all possible measures to secure the safe release of the three captives. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (June 17, 2008 issue)
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