|
Friday, June 20, 2008
Ces Drilon's hostage negotiators charged
MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) filed Thursday criminal charges against Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider "Jun" Isnaji for the kidnapping of the ABS-CBN news team on June 8 in Sulu province.
PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. said investigators have gathered enough evidence to establish the participation of the Isnajis in the kidnapping of ABS-CBN senior reporter Ces Drilon, her two cameramen, and their guide.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Mayor Isnaji and his son were presented before state prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) at Camp Crame in Quezon City for inquest proceedings. Both remain in police custody with no bail recommended for their temporary release.
"Our evaluation of statements from the victims and several witnesses all point to the participation of the Isnajis in the kidnapping of Ces Drilon and her crew staged by armed men, two of whom we have identified as Abu Harris and Tuan Wals," Razon said in a news briefing.
Related stories:
Professor Dinampo: AFP not holding me against my will
Freed hostage doubts participation of Isnajis in kidnapping
Arroyo orders assault on Ces Drilon captors
The Isnajis were included as among principal suspects in the case along with Abu Harris and Tuan Wals. The complete identities of several other suspects are now being validated by the PNP.
The kidnappers handpicked Mayor Isnaji as the "negotiator" for the hostages' release, while the younger Isnaji was one of the "emissaries" to the kidnappers, Razon said.
Inconsistencies
However, the PNP chief noted that inconsistencies in the debriefing of the Isnajis led investigators to believe that both were actual participants in the kidnapping.
Statements from witnesses and other evidence gathered by the PNP further bolstered this.
Razon hinted of more arrests in the coming days, including another suspect who has knowledge of the involvement of the Isnajis.
Drilon, her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, and their guide Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo were released by their Abu Sayyaf captors last Tuesday after nine days of captivity, supposedly on the negotiations initiated by the Isnajis. Assistant cameraman Angelo Valderama, the other captive, was released on June 12.
According to Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Mayor Isnaji will also face administrative case for allowing the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits to roam in his town.
The elder Isnaji used to be a member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). He is running for governor in the coming Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
Armm elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Mayor Isnaji could still run in the Armm elections this coming August 11 even if he is being implicated in the kidnapping of Drilon's group.
Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the mayor could run for Armm governor provided there was no conviction.
"If there is no conviction, then we cannot do anything about it. He (Mayor Isnaji) can run for governor," Sarmiento said.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza assured that there would be no sacred cows in the ongoing investigations and operations to bring justice to Drilon and company.
"The government's trajectory now is to get all those involved and apply the full force of the law. If there is sufficient evidence adduced against anyone, Mayor Isnaji included, then the axe of justice will necessary take its swing," Dureza said.
Full vindication
But in case "there is no sufficient quantum of proof to link Mayor Isnaji to the kidnapping, then he deserves exculpation and full vindication" he added.
Dureza said it would be better to await the results of the investigations that contribute to any speculation.
For Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr., the filing of charges against the Isnajis might complicate matters in Sulu considering that the Abu Sayyaf-appointed negotiator were highly influential in the area and with a wide following among the locals.
Gonzalez said Mayor Isnaji is highly respected in Sulu.
"He (Mayor Isnaji) is a VIP (very important person) in Sulu. Maybe that's why the kidnappers chose him. They trust him to relay their message. (But) it will complicate a lot of situations if he will be aggrieved. We don't know what his followers will do," he said.
Evidence
According to him, the fact that the kidnappers asked for Mayor Isnaji was a circumstantial evidence, which the accused should explain.
While admitting that he has yet to see the evidence that the PNP has on the Isnajis, Gonzalez theorized that the kidnapping could be a scheme for them to be able to raise funds for the Armm elections.
"They should be made to answer all the questions. They seemed to be close (to the ASG). These people are close to them. If the kidnapping is in aid of the elections, then it will have less impact on the Abu Sayyaf. It would just appear that they have just been used," he said.
From the beginning, the justice secretary had said that even the negotiators should be investigated and debriefed. "I have not foreclosed that idea. I said that even Professor Octavio Dinampo should be investigated."
He also said in a news forum in Quezon City that there is a possibility that the kidnapping of Drilon's group was to cover up the Meralco (Manila Electric Company) controversy.
"It's a far-fetched idea. It's a wild theory, but it could be a possibility. You just can't dismiss it," he said. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (June 20, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
