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Saturday, June 21, 2008
Mayor Isnaji kept P3M of P5M ransom: PNP
MANILA -- Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr. said Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji took P3 million of the P5-million ransom paid by the family of ABS-CBN senior reporter Ces Oreña-Drilon.
During Friday's press briefing at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Razon said Isnaji appeared to be the leader of the group that took Drilon, her two cameramen, and their guide Professor Octavio Dinampo at the outskirts of Maimbung town in Sulu province on June 8.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Mayor Isnaji and his son Haider have been charged before the justice department with kidnapping-for-ransom.
According to Razon, Drilon's brother, Frank Oreña, delivered the P5-million ransom on June 12 for the release of the hostages. However, the money turned out to be mere initial payment that paved the way for the release of one of the hostages, ABS-CBN assistant cameraman Angelo Valderama.
He said the payoff was bolstered by two pictures taken by moles in the intelligence community.
The pictures, said Razon, showed the Isnajis and Sulu Vice Governor Lady Anne Sahidula counting the P5-million money inside the mayor's house in Indanan.
"These pictures show Alvarez (Isnaji) counting money initially given for the release of Ces, but in the end it was Valderama who was released," said Razon.
Pictures, video
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr., for his part, said that intelligence assets took pictures and even Sahidulla has her own video showing Mayor Isnaji counting the money before it was delivered to the abductors.
"There were pictures showing his (Mayor Isnaji) participation. He is involved, aside from negotiating. He kept part of the loot. The pictures would show that he was counting the ransom. This would show that they were already part of the kidnapping syndicate," he said.
Haider, on the other hand, was the one directing the operations of the Abu Sayyaf.
"That is the report that I received from the PNP," Gonzalez said.
Also shown in the pictures was Senior Superintendent Winnie Quidato, who was detailed with the PNP's Intelligence Group.
The PNP chief said Quidato was actually one of the moles. He said Quidato identified himself as a civilian connected with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and is tasked to take part in the negotiations.
Quidato, in his affidavit, said Mayor Isnaji repeatedly told him that he would pocket the P3 million out of the P5 million ransom.
The police colonel, according to Razon, will be testifying against Isnaji and his son during their trial. He said apart from the pictures, police investigators also have other evidence to prove the guilt of the Isnajis.
"There was initially P5 million ransom paid by the Oreña family and according to Quidato, the mayor only paid P2 million and he retained P3 million for himself. We have not yet recovered the money, but we hope we will be able to get it at the course of the follow-up operation and investigation," he added.
Constant communication
Among the other evidence Razon mentioned was Isnaji's constant communication with the kidnappers.
"It was also gathered that Mayor Isnaji and his son persistently applied pressure on the family of the victims for the delivery of the remaining ransom money after Valderama was freed for the release of the remaining hostages still in captivity," said Razon.
In a presentation, PNP Directorate for Operations Silverio Alarcio narrated the kidnapping of Drilon's group.
He said the abduction of Drilon's group was perpetrated at 9:20 a.m. of June 8.
At 6 a.m. of June 10, the captors under Abu Sayyaf Group leader Radulan Sahiron took the hostages to Mt. Tungkol in Patikul, Sulu. The bandits tied up the hostages and threatened to behead Valderama if they do not get the ransom.
Alarcio said Mayor Isnaji and his son had been in constant communication with the kidnappers, and even directed the negotiation for the delivery and payment of the ransom.
P2 million
He said the mayor only delivered P2 million to the abductors and had kept the remaining P3 million. The money contained in two duffel bags were supposedly secured by a private aircraft and delivered to a hotel in Sulu.
The Isnajis acted as the emissaries for the kidnappers rather than for the government in the release of hostages, said Alarcio.
Secretary Gonzalez said at one point, the military could have closed in on the kidnappers to rescue the hostages, but the Isnajis prevailed on them because "they were still waiting for someone."
Asked if this "someone" was Senator Loren Legarda, who had quietly worked for the hostages' release, Gonzalez said he is not yet sure, as the lawmaker's name did not crop up during the investigation. This, however, does not make her off the hook, he added.
The justice secretary said Mayor Isnaji has asked that a formal preliminary investigation (PI) be conducted on them. The PI, which will be conducted by Senior State Prosecutor Emilie Fe delos Santos, head of the DOJ anti-kidnapping task force, will commence next week.
He said the claims of Isnaji's lawyer, Ernesto Francisco, that they were conducting the negotiation under the orders of DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno could be a good defense if they can prove it.
Since Mayor Isnaji has already been charged, Gonzalez said the local official is automatically suspended from service. However, this does not preclude him from joining the gubernatorial race in the Autonomous R0egion in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) elections on August 11. (VR/ECV/Sunnex)
Related stories:
Puno cites proof of Isnaji masterminding Drilon abduction
Ces Drilon's hostage negotiators chargedFor more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (June 21, 2008 issue)
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