The Abduction of Journalist CES OREÑA-DRILON

Written on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 at 3:01 am | by Ding G. Gagelonia

This running story first broke on the news wires of the Associated Press and is being carried both by the International Herald Tribune, with at least two local broadsheets bannering the report despite a news blackout clamped by police authorities and, in journalistic parlance, a story embargo requested by ABS-CBN, a practice normally honored by all journalists.

However, with the AP having broken the embargo first and both Tribune and SunStar Daily Cebu running it, along with IHT, this writer is sharing these details, apart from having confirmed the same from my own sources in the mainstream working press in Manila:

Ces Drilon and her two-member news crew went missing Saturday, June 7 but our sources confirmed they had actually been “abducted” after ABS-CBN network receIved the ransom demand. The story was also broken to media by the ARMM police chief Joel Goltiao. A text message is making the rounds quoting a ransom price considerably higher than that being reported by the Daily Tribune.

It remains unclear but it is reported that a certain Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo was in touch or was travelling with the ABS-CBN team of Ces. My sources tell me Ces herself decuded last Saturday to go on the coverage based on the tip that an unnamed ASG personality was “going to surrender.”

From the media reports now emerging, on Sunday morning Dinampo picked them up from the Mindanao State University hostel, and armed men identified as being under a certain ASG commander Albader Parad intercepted them as their vehicle passed through Kulasi village, ARMM police chief Joel Goltiao said.

The Maimbung police chief reported sightings in the Kulasi area and of people with a video camera inside a vehicle.

The Daily Tribune report written by its editor in chief, the feisty Ninez Cacho Olivares says the newspaper’s “intelligence sorce Drilon and her group “were last tracked somewhere at the foothills of Mt. Tumatangis, Indanan Sulu.

“We convened the provincial crisis management committee to send feelers to negotiate with the abductors, but the abductors have not yet said anything,” ARMM police chief Goltiao said by telephone, according to an AP wire story.

The report gives this further background: “Abu Sayyaf is estimated to have 380 fighters, down from more than 1,000 eight years ago. It has been weakened by U.S.-backed military offensives that have led to the killing and capture of many of its leaders and members.”

“But police said the militants have continued to plot attacks, including against U.S. soldiers who have been providing counter-terrorism training to Filipino troops in Jolo and nearby provinces.

Washington has blacklisted Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist group for bombings, kidnappings and beheadings, such as the 2001 abduction from a resort island of 21 people who included three Americans.

Philippine military and police officials say the group — which seeks a separate state for the country’s Muslim minority — has received training and funds from al-Qaida militants in the past.”

My own sources from at least two other major publications confirm the other details while ABS-CBN is set to issue an official statement on this breaking news within the day.

This writer knows Ces personally, having worked with her at the government-run Maharlike Broadcasting System, now NBN Channel 4, before EDSA 1. She is married to painter Rock Drilon, a nephew of former senate president Franklin Drilon.

This turn of events adds a disturbing dimension to the vents in Mindanao, coming as it does after the spate of bombings in Zamboanga and the Lanao provinces, and the skirmishes in Basilan involving either MILF, MNLF or Abu Sayyaf elements.

Whether authorities call these incidents terrorist attacks or banditry, the aspect of even working journalists being dragged into the fray despite their being civilian ‘non-combatants’ speaks volumes about the volatility of the situation and the lack of control government has in the troubled South.

We are sure the official line is that government will never negotiate with kidnappers, but the reality is different with conduits and back channels always the alternatives.

The foremost consideration always is the safe recovery of the victims.

Here is my YouTube post on the breaking story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmBv2LLUBLY

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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

Filed Under National News, Politics, World News

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Comments

22 Responses to “The Abduction of Journalist CES OREÑA-DRILON”

  1. Nick on June 10th, 2008 3:16 am

    I haven’t heard of any news of it until I read your report here.. I can understand the patience of both the Inquirer and ABS-CBN, but you’re right, IHT and Sunstar is already running the story..

  2. J on June 10th, 2008 3:29 am

    Got the story just minutes ago from the Tribune.

    The Abu Sayaff is back. And just right after MILF stalled the talks and Malaysians pull out. Maybe the MILF and the Abu Sayaff are really connected afterall.

    Which means more reason for the cabinet hawks to push for war in Mindanao.

  3. Ding Gagelonia on June 10th, 2008 3:36 am

    Nick and J,

    Am following this very closely and will update FilipinoVoices as I get more confirmed information.

  4. The Abduction of Ces Drilon | Tingog.com | The Voice of The Filipino on June 10th, 2008 4:11 am

    […] didn’t hear the news until Ding Gagelonia wrote about the abduction of well known reporter Ces Drilon. Ces is one of my favorite reporters, and if this turns out to be confirmed, as it is already being […]

  5. Nick on June 10th, 2008 4:24 am

    This presents a conundrum for me, on one end, there is the goal of safely recovering the abducted.. and then there is the goal of demolishing these bandits for good.

    I will wait in anticipation for the official statement of ABS-CBN. Thank you for the update Ding.

  6. Ding G. Gagelonia on June 10th, 2008 4:27 am

    Will post it soon as it breaks.

  7. Ces Drilon and 3 other journalists missing (breaking news in the blogosphere) | WordPress Philippines on June 10th, 2008 2:31 pm

    […] The Abduction of Journalist CES OREÑA-DRILON […]

  8. bestre on June 10th, 2008 6:13 pm

    I didnt know of this. My parents are watching the news all day but never did they mentioned this. If not of this site, I am ignorant of this news.

  9. ZC on June 10th, 2008 6:51 pm

    Mindanao is still a livable place. People here take things a lot more lightly than those in the North. Maybe because we just got used to it. Or maybe because we experience the actual thing, not the magnified version.

    Still, no one deserves to be held captive..

  10. Nick on June 10th, 2008 7:02 pm

    ZC, in The Philippines, any place is liveable, but when the stakes are higher, the net worth of the person is higher, the public stature of a person is greater, suddenly, liveable isn’t the word that best describes certain areas of Mindanao.

    This goes the same with parts of Samar, and areas that have a insurgent stronghold. The fact is, that even with the low levels of insurgent rebels, they are still able to instill fear because of tactics such as kidnapping and bombings where confrontation with military is not the goal, but the terrorizing of the population is..

    With one abduction, or with one bombing, something only a few bandits can execute, the population suddenly becomes unsure of its safety..

    Ces Drilon and the two other individuals are an excellent example of such a case..

  11. the jester-in-exile on June 11th, 2008 1:20 am

    i’m nitpicking, but abs-cbn is now allowing youtube video of their shows? (haven’t gone to see it, so i may be wrong.)

  12. abu sayaf on June 11th, 2008 5:23 am

    buwahahahahahaha kinuha namin siya hindi nanaim siya ibibigay sa inyo pakakasalan ko na siya

  13. domingo dominez on June 11th, 2008 7:28 am

    ABS-CBN people never learned a lesson. Ces Drilon and staff were to cover a documentary on the ASG in the hinterlands of Sulu. Dahil sa SCOOP kumagat sila sa bitag without weighing things in perspetive. It should be recalled that in the previous past, Maan Macapagal and her camera man were also kidnapped by the suspected ASG at marami pang media people ang nakidnap, to include that lady from Net 25 na di naging maganda ang feedback. Pero pera-pera lang ang nasa utak nitong mga ASG at dahil malapit na ang eleksyon sa ARMM, siguro gusto nilang mag-raise ng funds dahil baka sumabak sa politika ang mga sandarupak na mag ito.
    Alam ng ASG maraming pera ang ABS-CBN at MERALCO at alam din nila na hindi sila agad mapagbintangan dahil kalaban ng adninistrasyon ang ABS.CBN at MERALCO. In the “game of the foxes” maraming sacrificial lambs at deceptions.

  14. benign0 on June 11th, 2008 8:12 am

    I’m just wondering how many soldiers’ lives might be lost recovering these people or how much resources will be channeled into this high-profile endeavour considering that there are people who try to AVOID danger, still get into trouble just the same, and ALSO need this same kind of attention (but lack the right connections and the strings to pull them to get this kind of priority).

    That’s the Philippines for you. Binabandila nga naman ang karapatan ng pangkaraniwang mamamayan.

  15. domingo dominez on June 11th, 2008 11:21 am

    I have some doubts hanging at the back of my mind if the AFP will succeed in rescuing Ces Drilon and company. Alam ng Marines ang kapasidad nila and more often than not walang mangyaring open confront ation dahil di naman nila matutunton ang mga ASG.

    Dinala raw sa Brgy Karawan, Indanan, Sulu sina Ces Drilon after they were seized somewhere in Brgy Kulasi, maimbung, Sulu last Sunday, June 8, 2008. Ang nasabing lugar ay kilalang balwarte in Dr ABU at alam ng militar ang ereya. Subali’t I anticipate, malayong mangyaring pasukin ang ereya dahil malakas ang info net nila at ayaw ng militar na malagasin silang muli.

    Kakanyunin muna nila ang ereya ago lusubin ang encampment ng ASG doon gaya ng ginawa nila sa Brgy Marang, Indanan, Sulu last April 30, 2008. Accordingly, naoverran daw ang kampo ng ASG. But the truth of the matter is, the joint Marines -Scout Rangers were unable to penetrate the camp, dahil malayong-malayo pa ang kampo ng ASG in contrast sa claims ng militar. Hindi kampo ng ASG ang napasok ng militart kundi ang kampo n g MNLF na barely 500 meters away from the 36th Marine Company Detachment diyan sa Brgy Buansa, Indanan,Sulu.

  16. Manuel L. Quezon III: The Daily Dose » Blog Archive » The embargo on June 11th, 2008 5:33 pm

    […] among media outfits actually stretched from Sunday to nearly all of Monday. According to Ding G. Gagelonia (blogging on June […]

  17. Fr. Paul J. Marquez, SSP on June 12th, 2008 12:21 am

    Ces Drilon is a brave journalist who always pushed the frontiers. She knows that truth is indeed expensive; sometimes you put even your life on line for the pursuit of truth.

    Let’s offer prayers for her safe return, as well as for her companions. I hope she can return to her family soon.

  18. glen on June 13th, 2008 10:02 am

    yung comments ko kahapon nawala …bkit ninyo tinangal .mahaba yun eh .damdamin ng bayan yun .ibalik ninyo plsss..kala ko ba voices to!..cguro may tinamaan sa message ko!totoo yun nu.pag dininyo binalik …maslalong lala la ang situation .remember that!

    kailangan may makabasa nun …kung ano ang katotohanan..plsss seek the truth ..katotohanan ang hinahanap ng taong bayan ..gutom na!tyo eh plssss..kindly post it back..

    common voice out baby!

  19. glen on June 13th, 2008 10:07 am

    filipinos are high pride ayaw mag patalo! kaya tayo hirap na hirap ang bansa natin .attitude problem and thats the truest sense of the word! got it?!

  20. Nick on June 13th, 2008 10:31 am

    @glen, your comment may have been marked as spam by our automatic filters.. we’ve searched our database, however, and could not find it, it may not have been saved into the comments.. You can resubmit your comment..

    We don’t censor comments here.

  21. glen on June 16th, 2008 4:52 am

    sabi kona sa inyo eh…hinde pwude na walang ransom ang abu sayaf nun payan eh sa kidnaping.and Thats a business .pinag hirapan nila yan pag abduct sa apat na tao, syempre may kapalit din ang pinaghirapan. Ano cla tanga! bobo ,inutil ,wise din yan cla nu may brain din yan nu..c jun naka release dahil sa ransom around 2M pesos o mahigit binayad nila ,totoo yun.See? were is the No ransom policy ng governo?salita lang diba.hehehheehheehhe.kala ko matapang ang governo?takot din pala tyo.you got a nerve! Tao lang tyo eh diba.makuha lang sa bayaran.si ces tingin ko malaki din cguro ransom mga 10 million ang
    bid ng abu.

    ang iba mga thausands ang ransom.
    hay governo natin ewan ko po! ILABAS NYO NA ANG KINIK BACK NINYO SA MGA TAO>……YUNG KINURAPT NINYO SA MGA TAO. ibayad na sa ransom……tnx

  22. josue II on June 22nd, 2008 11:02 am

    kawawawawawawawaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!! naman kau
    bobo kc eh buti nga

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