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Thursday, June 19, 2008
Arroyo orders assault on Ces Drilon captors
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday ordered a massive manhunt for the kidnappers of ABS-CBN senior reporter Ces Oreña-Drilon, her cameramen, and their guide.
Arroyo announced her directive during a regional meeting of leaders of administration parties in Davao City.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
"I have ordered the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to launch a massive manhunt for the kidnappers of Ces Drilon," she said.
Drilon, cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and guide Professor Octavio Dinampo were seized by the Abu Sayyaf bandits on June 8 in Barangay Kulasi, Maimbung town while on their way to conduct interviews for a special coverage.
Drilon, Encarnacion, and Dinampo were freed late Tuesday night in nearby Talipao town of Sulu province. Valderama, on the other hand, was released on the evening of June 12.
Related stories:
Ces Drilon: We were betrayed
Gov't vows to catch Drilon kidnappers
President Arroyo also stressed the need to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf Group to usher in peace and development in Mindanao.
"We have to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf once and for all," she said. The al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf is notorious for bombings, kidnappings, and beheadings.
Two of the alleged kidnappers were identified as Sulayman Patta alias Amah Ma'as and Abu Haris and Walid alias Tuan Walis, who each carry a P500,000 bounty.
Other names implicated in the kidnapping are Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad and Gapur Jundain, a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front who recently joined the extremist group.
According to Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, while the government is happy with the release, authorities would continue the hunt until they have brought the perpetrators to the bar of justice.
"We are happy for bringing the victims back, but our rejoicing must not overshadow our unrelenting efforts to bring the perpetrators to the bar of justice and face the full force of the law," he said.
Dureza also lauded the Crisis Management Committee, the local officials and members of the police and the military for their "steadfast and excellent handling of the impasse involving Drilon and her three other companions."
"The safety and welfare of the victims was always the foremost consideration all throughout their ordeal," he added.
Punitive actions
Meeting separately with AFP chief of staff Lieutenant General Alexander Yano and southern Philippine military commanders, Arroyo ordered security forces to launch "intensive punitive actions against the kidnappers" of the ABS-CBN news team, said Dureza.
AFP public information officer Ernesto Torres Jr. said the assault will be spearheaded by the US-trained Light Reaction Battalion, Scout Ranger and the Army Special Forces, and the Marines.
"We will use the full might of the government in going after these armed bandits but without compromising the safety of civilians there," Torres said, adding that elements from the Naval Forces South and the Air Force will also assist in the operation.
He added: "We have been instructed to conduct punitive actions against the group that had taken Drilon's group and other terrorists in Sulu. That's the directive, and we will pursue that in the coming days."
Unlike the massive military operations in the past, Torres said they will launch a "surgical" operation that is "intelligence-driven" to ensure that there will be no collateral casualties among the civilians living in the area.
Lifeline
Drilon, during the press conferences in Zamboanga City and Manila, repeatedly thanked Senator Loren Legarda, who played a major role in the negotiations for the news team's safe release.
"She (Drilon) was a lifeline to us lalo na nung ang madilim na madilim na ng hinaharap namin (especially at the point where our future is uncertain)," Drilon said.
Legarda said that on the morning of June 17, Drilon called her and asked if she will fetch her or rescue her.
"Tell me Loren are you gonna come or not, tell me if you are not coming so I can accept my fate," Legarda recalled her conversation with Drilon.
Legarda said Drilon was crying and screaming because Encarnacion was tied and threatened to be beheaded while she was slapped by her abductors.
She said Drilon during their conversations kept promising to her captors to give the P15-million ransom but the senator was clear in saying that she was working for Drilon's unconditional release.
Ordeal
Recounting their 10-day jungle ordeal, Drilon's group said their Abu Sayyaf abductors tied them up and made several threats to behead them.
Drilon and her companions thanked everyone who helped secure their release. "I want to thank everybody. Words are not enough to thank those who prayed for the professor, Jimmy, Angel, and myself," the visibly stressed journalist told reporters.
They said they are cooperating with authorities for the capture of their abductors.
"I am very, very happy," said Drilon, wiping away tears from her face pocked by mosquito bites. "It is a great thing to surpass an ordeal where for 10 days you didn't know if you would live."
She said Dinampo, a peace advocate and professor of Mindanao State University who served as their guide, was betrayed and tricked by militants they were suppose to interview to find out who have emerged as new leaders of the Abu Sayyaf.
But she said she trusts Dinampo, who was also held.
The gunmen included boys as young as 12, Drilon added.
For his part, Encarnacion said: "There were many times I thought it was the end for me."
Drilon earlier said she was also tied up and slapped by her captors during their harrowing captivity.
Ransom payment
There were speculations that as much as P15 million in ransom was paid for the release of Drilon and company but Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr. said he was unaware of any such payment.
Razon said negotiations and the threat of a possible military and police assaults "pressured" the abductors.
"As far as we know, there was no money involved. No ransom was paid," said Razon amid allegations that two bags, apparently containing the money, were given to a group that negotiated for the release of the hostages.
Senator Legarda has also denied any ransom payment. ABS-CBN earlier said it rejected ransom demands.
Drilon said Mayor Alvarez Isnaji told them after their release that the kidnappers were promised livelihood projects. (AP/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (June 19, 2008 issue)
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