Malacanang Confirms Ces Drilon Abduction, Urges Media Restraint

Written on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 at 9:56 am | by Ding G. Gagelonia

With the media embargo broken.Malacanang several minutes ago confirmed the abduction of journalist Ces Drilon and appealed to the news media for “caution and restraint” in reporting the incident.

“We hope for her safety and that of her crew. Likewise we appeal for caution and restraint in media reportage so as not to unduly hamper efforts to rescue them,” Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Deputy Palace Spokesman Anthony Golez for his part Malacañang “is condemning the kidnapping and assured that the Philippine National Police is doing all it can to run after the perpetrators and “bring the victims home alive and well.”

Golez also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been directed to share intelligence information with the police, which would lead to the capture of the group believed to be that of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group.

“This must not go unpunished,” he added.

Restraint , indeed, is paramount. From hereon, we expect authorities to impose a news blackout on officials on the ground in Sulu.

Journalists will, on their own continue to keep their ears close to the ground as it is their professional duty to vigilantly safeguard the public’s right to information.

The lines are drawn.

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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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Comments

6 Responses to “Malacanang Confirms Ces Drilon Abduction, Urges Media Restraint”

  1. Fitz on June 10th, 2008 10:39 am

    I pray for their safety.

  2. cvj on June 10th, 2008 12:15 pm

    I hope this ends well.

  3. “Restraint” and the average Pinoy schmoe | Filipino Voices on June 10th, 2008 1:40 pm

    […] is from this context that I’d like to revisit those three calls I cited as the highlights of Ding’s latest update on the […]

  4. angeh on June 13th, 2008 12:34 pm

    ABS CBN bakit di nyo magawang bigyan ng pera ang mga kumidnap kila ces!! nu pa inaantay nyo may mangyaring masama?! ohhh gusto nyo lang may maibalita pa….. tsk!! arroyo ikaw?! ala ka ring magawa!! lagi nalang.. dami dami nyong nakukuhang pera mula sa aming lahat…

  5. addie on June 16th, 2008 6:17 pm

    i don’t understand why a news blackout is necessary. is it because drilon is an employee of one of the biggest companies in the philippines? is that how powerful the lopezes are? if so, then i am more sorry for our country than ever. they take command over everything.

    to make myself explicit, this is a tragedy. kidnapping has always been a tragedy. and i feel for ces drilon and her crew. i feel for their anxious families.

    but how are their lives more important than those priests, children and everybody else that are kidnapped here in the philippines? remember reverend bossi? wasn’t his case made VERY public in 2007, especially by abs-cbn???

  6. Mistaken presumption of heroism | Filipino Voices on June 19th, 2008 9:53 am

    […] it seems we had quite a lot to say about Ces Drilon’s regard for The Job to the extent of asserting back in the 10th of June that “Journalists will, on their own continue to keep their ears close to the ground as it is […]

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