ABS-CBN cameraman freed, two other journalists still held in Sulu
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Publication Date | 13 June 2008 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, ABS-CBN cameraman freed, two other journalists still held in Sulu, 13 June 2008, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/485618c31c.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Reporters Without Borders hails cameraman Angelo Valderama's release last night and calls for this to be followed up with the release of reporter Ces Drilon and cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion. Police chief Avelino Razon said this morning: "We hope the remaining hostages will be freed today."
According to armed forces chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, the ABS-CBN television crew led by presenter Ces Drilon is in good health although still held hostage in the mountains of the southern island of Sulu by a group that is believed to be the radical organisation Abu Sayyaf.
ABS-CBN is reportedly talking to their abductors but the armed forces are refusing to comment on the possibility that negotiations for their release are under way. In a statement on 11 June, the network said it opposed the payment of any ransom in order to discourage future abductions of journalists.
"Negotiations for their release have reached critical stage with an increase in the ransom demand from 145,000 to 290,000 euros," a source close to the case told Agence France-Presse yesterday. All those involved in the case have urged the media to act with the utmost care.
10.06.2008 - TV station's presenter and crew kidnapped on southern island
Reporters Without Borders calls for the release of ABS-CBN television's presenter, Ces Drilon, her two-member crew and their guide, who have been missing for the past two days on the southern island of Sulu and may have been abducted by the militant group Abu Sayyaf, which has kidnapped more than 30 journalists.
"We hope that those who have abducted these three journalists and their guide will hear the appeals being made on their behalf by many of the country's leading figures," the press freedom organisation said. "Taking hostages is unacceptable. We call on all those could have any influence over the kidnappers to try to get Drilon and her colleagues released."
The country's largest privately-owned TV network, ABS-CBN confirmed today that it lost contact with Drilon and her crew, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and the Mindanao University professor who was serving as their guide, Octavio Dinampo.
It is believed that they were kidnapped on the evening of 8 June in Maimbung, on Sulu, an island to the southwest of Mindanao island, where they had gone to do a report. ABS-CBN asked other news media to consider the security of its journalists when covering the story.
Drilon, who has worked for ABS-CBN since 1989, produces and presents its programme Business News. She has won several media prizes for her reporting.
The Mindanews agency said Dinampo has guided journalists on Sulu several times in the past and has written articles after interviewing Abu Sayyaf militants. "The kidnappers must free him because he is a man of peace," said Roberto Layson, another Mindanao peace activist.
President Gloria Arroyo has ordered the security forces to do everything possible to find the ABS-CBN crew.
Abu Sayyaf's many hostages have included European journalists Andreas Lorenz, Maryse Burgot, Jean-Jacques Le Garrec and Roland Madura, who were kidnapped on the island of Jolo in 2000. Arlyn de la Cruz, a reporter for the daily Inquirer and privately-owned TV station Net25, was released in April 2002 after being held for 100 days on Jolo.
