Ces Drilon's kidnappers give ultimatum

Mayor Alvarez Isnaji (right) of Indanan, Sulu is currently negotiating for the release of Ces Drilon and two other companions seized by Abu Sayyaf on June 8 while on their way to Maimbung. He's one of the seven contenders for gubernatorial race in the August 11, 2008 ARMM election.

The fate of ABS-CBN journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon and companions seized by Abu Sayyaf militants remains uncertain after the kidnappers gave the victims' families until 12 noon Tuesday to give the ransom or face unspecified consequences.

Mayor Alvarez Isnaji of Indanan, Sulu, the hostage crisis negotiator, relayed the ultimatum Monday from the captors, who are still holding captives Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and a companion Prof. Octavio Dinampo of Mindanao State University.

The deadline came as heavily armed troops shelled a forested area on a jungle in Indanan town, where Abu Sayyaf militants are believed holding three remaining captives, injuring a woman resident in the area.

"So far nakatawag kanina sa akin about 10 minutes ago, si Ces Drilon sabi niya sa akin mayor naiba ang situasyon dito dahil hinigpitan na raw sila pati iyong kasama niya. So sabi ko huwag naman ganun at saka iyong deadline nila hanggang bukas" said Isnaji in Tagalog dialect.

"Huwag naman sabi ko dahil sabi niya mayron na usapan sa Manila nung parents daw e aakyat na lang dito ang gusto nila. Mayor magtulong ka talaga dito dahil mayron na daw silang policy…ipaalam sa lahat hanggang 12 o'clock bukas Tuesday."

Drilon's group including Prof. Dinampo were kidnapped June 8 while on their way to Maimbung town to secretly interview an Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, who reportedly sent surrender feelers. Sahiron's group is believed behind the abduction.

According to Isnaji, he was worried the military's shelling could endanger the lives of the hostages. He foresees that if the military continues its operation to the other areas could certainly affect his negotiation with the kidnappers.

One of two ABS-CBN cameramen, Angelo Valderama, was freed by the Abu Sayyaf group late Thursday in the village of Sinumaan in Talipao town after a few hundred thousand pesos was reportedly paid to the kidnappers.

Isnaji said Ms. Drilon called (via cellular phone) to inform him that their situation there has changed because their captors have strictly restricted them. He also said that Drilon has seriously asked him to help secure their release.

The Abu Sayyaf chose Isnaji to negotiate for the release of the hostages. The kidnappers were demanding as much as P50 million for the release of all the victims, but Isnaji said the kidnappers have asked only for P15 million.

US listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign terrorist organization and has offered rewards of up to $5 million for the capture of its known key leaders. American troops are deployed in Sulu since 2006 and assisting Filipino soldiers against terrorism.

The families of Drilon and Encarnacion, meanwhile, branded as “erroneous” reports that they were negotiating independently with the abductors.

"Only Mayor Isnaji is directly communicating with the kidnappers,” said the relatives of the kidnapped journalists in a statement.

They said they are counting on Isnaji “for the release of Ces and Jimmy and continue to pray for his efforts."

For its part, ABS-CBN, Drilon’s network dismissed allegations that it has abandoned its reporter and crew but reiterated that it would continue to abide by its “no ransom policy.”

“We are deeply saddened and troubled by accusations that ABS-CBN has abandoned Ces and Jimmy,” the network said in a statement Monday.

“ABS-CBN is doing everything it can to help them and their families through this harrowing ordeal,” it said.

“However, ABS-CBN will abide by its policy not to pay ransom because this would embolden kidnap for ransom groups to abduct other journalists, putting more lives at risk,” it said.

Isnaji said Drilon pleaded for help. The mayor said he also talked to the kidnappers, asking them not to hurt Drilon and her companions.

He said the kidnappers informed him that they were able to talk to Drilon's family that has agreed to pay the P15-million ransom.

The money, the kidnappers claimed, should be brought to the mayor by a representative of the Drilon family, Isnaji said.

He said the ransom was reduced from P20 million to P15 million, based on what was allegedly agreed upon by the kidnappers and Drilon's family.

If ransom were not paid by the deadline, Isnaji said, the kidnappers would take a "strong position."

He, however, denied threats by the captors who said that they would start executing the remaining hostages if the demands were not met.