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June 16, 2008
Sayyaf wants P15-M ransom paid by
noon Tuesday - Isnaji
AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV
MANILA, Philippines - Indanan town Mayor Alvarez Isnaji on Monday confirmed that the Abu Sayyaf group that abducted an ABS-CBN news team and a Mindanao professor in Sulu last week demanded for the payment of a P15-million ransom for the release of the hostages.
GMA's Flash Report quoted Isnaji as saying that broadcast journalist Cecilia Victoria "Ces" Oreña-Drilon called him about 8:30 a.m. Monday informing him of the P15-million ransom demand in exchange for the three remaining hostages' freedom.
Isnaji also said the abductors also set an ultimatum for the payment of ransom. The official said the abductors are demanding the payment of the ransom before noon Tuesday.
"Nagbigay na ngayon ng warning sa akin. Pag di pa dumating ang ano hanggang 12 noon bukas, Tuesday, sabi nila wala na. Meaning, kahit hindi na daw ako makipag-usap sa kanila... Wala nang negosasyon (They already gave a warning that if they do not get the ransom payment by 12 noon Tuesday, they will stop negotiations for the captives release)," Isnaji said.
Drilon, together with cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Prof. Octavio Dinampo are still held by the members of the Abu Sayyaf.
In a separate interview with reporters which was aired over radio dzBB Monday morning, Isnaji said the abductors have now mentioned the amount they want to get in exchange for the release of the three.
"P15 million na ransom yun ang talagang direct na binanggit nila. Dati walang banggit banggit ng pera pero ngayon meron daw silang arrangement from Manila , the parents (The abductors are asking for a P15-million ransom. That is their direct demand. In the past, the abductors never mentioned any amount but now they said they already have an arrangement from Manila , the parents)," Isnaji said.
"Ang pagkakaalam nila may magdadala ng pera dito sa akin tapos ibigay ko sa kanila (They thought somebody would be bringing the money to me and I will be the one who would bring it to them)," Isnaji said.
The town mayor said he asked Drilon why she agreed to pay the ransom, the broadcast journalist told him that she has no choice as a gun was pointed at her.
"Sabi ko sa kanya bakit ka pumayag? (Ang sabi niya,) hindi mayor, hindi tutuo yun alam nila, may nakatutok sa akin. Kahit anong sabihin nila sa akin. Pero ang tutuo wala kaming pera (I asked her why did you agree? She said no mayor, that's not true. They know it, a gun was pointed at me so I will follow their orders. But the truth is we don't have the money)," Isnaji recalled his conversation with Drilon over the phone.
He said Drilon was crying during their recent phone conversations.
Isnaji said if the abductors will not heed him, his last option would be sending a person to directly talk to the members of the Abu Sayyaf holding Drilon and the two others.
Earlier in the day, ABS-CBN said it will abide its policy not to pay ransom to facilitate the captives' release.
The ABS-CBN also denied that it has abandoned its employees even as it said it is "doing everything it can" to assist in the release of Drilon and Ecarnacion who remain captives of the Abu Sayyaf along with professor Dinampo.
"We are deeply saddened and troubled by accusations that ABS CBN has abandoned Ces and Jimmy. ABS CBN is doing everything it can to help them and their families through this harrowing ordeal," ABS-CBN said in a statement.
"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 added.
Meanwhile, Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy" Biazon said the government should consider a military operation as the “last resort" in the attempt to rescue the three remaining hostages.
Biazon said if negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf abductors turn out fruitless, the government may consider a military rescue effort, even as he said negotiators must ensure there is “proof of life."
Biazon, who also serves as vice chair of the House committee on National Defense and Security, also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines must intensify efforts to determine the exact location of the abductors.
For his part, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante reminded the media to be careful in their reportage to avoid endangering the lives of Drilon and Encarnacion and jeopardizing negotiations. - with reports from Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV