Wednesday, June 11, 2008 Police chief: Ransom demand not official By Bong Garcia
A TOP official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is shying away from reports that the alleged abductors of ABS-CBN broadcaster Ces Drilon demanded a P10-million ransom.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) Police Director Joel Goltiao distanced himself from the issue, saying the ransom demand is unofficial.
"I would say that this (ransom demand) is not official," Goltiao said in a phone interview Tuesday.
Goltiao, however, acknowledged that there is such information about ransom demand.
"These (ransom demand) are text from negotiators and voluntary informants, which are not reliable," he added.
News reports said the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits are demanding P10-million ransom in exchange for the release of Drilon, her crews, and Professor Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State University, who were allegedly abducted Sunday in Maimbung town, in the province of Sulu.
Goltiao said there are negotiators from Sulu and Manila who are negotiating for the release of the victims.
Drilon, her co-workers in ABS-CBN, and Dinampo were seized by the Abu Sayyaf Sunday in the village of Kulasi, Maimbung while on their way to cover "a special event" with Dinampo as their guide.
Dinampo also chairs the Mindanao People's Caucus, which is a peace advocate group. He served as guide to journalists who want to talk with members of the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Goltiao said the victims were held hostage by an Abu Sayyaf group led by Al-bader Parad.
Parad is one of the mid-level Abu Sayyaf leaders involved in the mass kidnapping of 21 people -- 10 Europeans and 11 Asians -- in April of 2000 in Sipadan Island dive resort in Malaysia.
According to Goltiao, the Abu Sayyaf bandits are keeping the hostages in the hinterlands of Indanan town, but are "highly mobile" since they are transferring from one place to another.
