Abductors Extend The Ransom Payment Deadline in The Drilon Abduction

Written on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 at 1:13 pm | by Ding G. Gagelonia

This just in… the abductors of Ces Drilon and two others have just extended “indefinitely” the deadline for the payment of the P15M ransom. Jolo broadcaster Zeny Masong reports the kidnappers gave in to the repeated appeals of negotiators.

But Masong adds,”the negotiators have now revealed the ultimatum earlier given to them included a threat that the hostages “would be beheaded” by 2:00 pm if the ransom was not paid.

Now, that threat itself “has apparently been withdrawn.”

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About The Author: Ding G. Gagelonia is a journalist of some 30 years, having worked in both radio and TV news and public affairs since his teens. Ding Gagelonia now writes independently and does corporate communications consulting. He has two kids, Felice and Luis. His journalist blog is at midfield.wordpress.com

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8 Responses to “Abductors Extend The Ransom Payment Deadline in The Drilon Abduction”

  1. benign0 on June 17th, 2008 2:08 pm

    I’m just wondering…

    Is Filipino Voices a news feed aggregator? Or are we an ISSUES blog? Is blow-by-blow reporting our core mission? Or are we an analysis team?

    Just wondering and introducing a bit of food for thought here… ;)

  2. Nick on June 17th, 2008 3:45 pm

    @benign0, definitely not aggregator..

    However, accordingly, the subtitle does say it,

    Politics, News, and Social Commentary.

    In any case, we’re barely three months old, our cohesiveness in terms of a unified goal or mission, or even vision may take time. Let’s see where this goes.

    And yes, it’s food for thought, no need to be shy about floating ideas around here, that’s the point of having a discussion in the first place.

    In any case, I am deeply interested in the news coming out from Ding’s vantage point.

  3. Nick on June 17th, 2008 4:05 pm

    @Ding, I am still scratching my head as to what they mean by indefinite deadline.

    What do they expect to do, if no one pays the ransom?

    And, I know this may not be a popular opinion, but ransom is not the answer.

  4. Ding G. Gagelonia on June 17th, 2008 4:36 pm

    Nick,
    The episode is really a poser, as ransom payment feeds on itself and we succumb to the criminal agenda.
    The sooner this abduction is resolved by whatever route, hopefully with the hostages safely extracted from the claws of the malevolent ASG, the sooner we can all move forward.
    My thoughts also go to out soldiers who may have to do battle if the final option is taken.

  5. noemi on June 18th, 2008 9:35 pm

    I go here to read issues not news as I can get that elsewhere

  6. Ding G. Gagelonia on June 18th, 2008 9:59 pm

    Ma’am Noemi,

    There is no intent to turn FV into a news provider. Far from it.

    But we need to see clearly through smoke and mirrors. So when there are myriad forces ‘operating’ behind the scenes and projecting propaganda in the mainstream press packaged as news, then we need to try to give the discourse and commentary sound journalistic underpinnings rather than just dish out shot-from-hip commentary.

  7. the jester-in-exile on June 18th, 2008 10:03 pm

    So when there are myriad forces ‘operating’ behind the scenes and projecting propaganda in the mainstream press packaged as news…

    ah so. there has been such, in this case? news management, in the form of news denial (the embargo) and spin control (your statement above)?

  8. Ding G. Gagelonia on June 18th, 2008 10:16 pm

    Yes and no. The story does not really end with the presented resolution of the abduction. An example, the Abu Sayyaf had long been declared ‘ready for cremation’ by authorities and yet they continue to rule the jungles of Sulu.

    Here, and most everywhere, spinmeisters abound.

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