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Sunday, June 22, 2008
Palace clarifies offensive vs Abu Sayyaf
MANILA -- Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the renewed offensive in Sulu is aimed at the kidnappers of ABS-CBN senior reporter Ces Drilon and three others, and not an "all-out war."
Dureza said the offensive is more of a "surgical operation" that is focused on specific targets who were identified to be involved in the kidnapping through a video footage made public by the Philippine National Police (PNP) last Friday.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
According to him, the kidnappers number around 14 to 16 persons.
He also said Malacañang is leaving it to the police to determine and prove the alleged involvement of some officials like Indanan, Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider, who were earlier charged as primary suspects in the kidnapping.
The elder Isnaji was the negotiator for the release of Drilon, her cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and their guide Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo. Haider, on the other hand, was one of the emissaries.
PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. briefed the Cabinet security cluster on the developments of the kidnapping, said Dureza.
Photographs
Razon has showed to them some of the evidence against the Isnajis, including photographs of the mayor holding the P5-million ransom. The mayor reportedly got P3 million while the P2 million was handed to the kidnappers.
But Dureza doubted the involvement of Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidula in the crime, whom he said, he personally talked to after videos and pictures showing her with the Isnajis during the alleged ransom payment emerged.
He said Sahidula informed him that she had the event videotaped, but was not sure if it was the same video the police had. He added that the vice governor informed him that she left after the incident, uncomfortable with what transpired.
Authorities, said Dureza, are collating additional evidence to support the case. He stressed that "no one should be spared in applying the law."
Elections
Meanwhile, an election watchdog said the filing of charges against Mayor Isnaji in a way might do him good as far as his candidacy in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) elections is concerned.
Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform (Iper), said the controversy that surrounds the mayor might help boost his chances in the August 11 elections.
Mayor Isnaji is running for Armm governor.
"I think it could still work for him (Mayor Isnaji) because, in a way, he became popular. He was given free publicity, so to speak," Casiple said.
He said aside from the controversy, the other factor that will further boost the Indanan mayor's candidacy is the support of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
"He (Isnaji) has the support of the MILF and the MNLF," he said. (JMR/MSN/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (June 22, 2008 issue)
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