Updates On Ces Drilon Kidnapping

Written on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 1:22 pm | by Patricio Mangubat

Inquirer correspondent Julie Alikpala’s account on the circumstances surrounding Ces Drilon’s alleged kidnapping is worth reading. She says that Prof. Dinampo also asked the Inquirer to cover an interview of an Abu Sayyaf personality. Julie wants to go, but was prevailed upon by her desk editor due to some “suspicious” conditions put forward by Dimampo. Alikpala did’nt go, but ABS-CBN insisted that it goes ahead with the “scoop”.

Sources in the underground revealed that Ces is supposed to interview ASG Leader Radulan Sahiron aka “Commander Putol”. Sahiron was one of the original members of the ASG, along with Khadaffy Janjalani. He’s one of the purported “ideological leaders” of the group.

Sources say, the 70 year old ASG leader intends to surrender to government. Widely respected globally as a terrorist leader, Sahiron is said to be sick and has been replaced by Dr. Abu Jumdail, nicknamed “Abu Pula”.

Abu Pula, together with ASG Commander Albader Parad, led the bloody encounter with the military last year which led to the deaths of 57 Marines in Sulu.

Sahiron’s purported “surrender feelers” could be the subject of Ces story. That’s why she was escorted by ASG Commander Albader Parad and another sub-commander, Jumdail.

However, there are strong indications that Ces and her crew were intercepted by another ASG group led by ASG sub-leader Gafur Gumbahali in Kulasi village in Maimbung town Sunday morning. Gafur is the brother of Dr. Abu Pula.

It could be that Ces is being held for two (2) reasons: One, to prevent her from interviewing Sahiron and two, to secure her first before finally releasing her to use another route going to the Jolo town.

Nonetheless, there are indications also that the group holding Ces have been negotiating with ABS-CBN for ransom demands. If this is true, then, the ransom demand is just a subterfuge to squeeze every publicity juice about the incident and earn some money for negotiators and those who are securing Ces and her crew.

Whatever the reasons are, one thing is certainly clear–this is bad for the image of the Tausugs in Sulu. Writing about her own experience, Inquirer correspondent Arlyn Dela Cruz wrote that some Tausugs want reporters to write about stories that would help Muslims in Jolo. They want reporters to write about other stuff rather than writing about terrorism or the ASG there.

Question–with this alleged abduction, how will we ever write something beautiful about the island of Sulu?

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About The Author: Patricio Mangubat is a pseudonym. It means "country fight". Yet, the one behind this name is real. He can be briefly described as a long-time activist as well as a communication strategist. He blogs at The New Philippine Revolution.

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9 Responses to “Updates On Ces Drilon Kidnapping”

  1. MiGs on June 11th, 2008 4:30 pm

    That’s one of the topics on the Mindanao Bloggers mailing list.

    We, the Mindanao Bloggers, have been continuously promoting Mindanao. But its events like this that overshadows everything.

    And mind you, this happened in Sulu, and we in Davao are affected - tourism.

    Davao City is safe and peaceful. Sulu… well, is that part of the Philippines? =p

  2. cvj on June 11th, 2008 4:40 pm

    Here in Singapore, among the locals, the Abu Sayyaf is still top of mind even if the last high profile kidnapping (before Ces Drilon’s kidnapping) was during Estrada’s time. So they have damaged not only Mindanao but the entire Philippines.

  3. Patricio Mangubat on June 12th, 2008 8:46 am

    That’s right CVJ. We must call on the obliteration of the Abu Sayyaf Group from the face of this beloved nation. Everyone should heed my call on the total annihilation of this menace. They are not doing these things in the Name of Islam. No. They are doing this in the name of the green bucks. Hence, they are no different from those Chinese or Indian kidnapping syndicates who prey on their hapless fellow compatriots.

    I ask each and every pious Muslim out there–struggle against all forms of terrorism. Struggle against the Abu Sayyaf. Struggle against those who support them with arms and funds. Struggle with the help of Allah and you will reap the rewards of paradise.

  4. addie on June 16th, 2008 5:55 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???

  5. Joy on June 17th, 2008 1:25 pm

    every kidnapping incident is a tragic. we are all hoping for this activity to stopped ASAP. however, instead of making criticisms to network and making some accusations to anybody why not asked ourselves what can we do to help this ill fated people in our own little way.On the other hand, let the brains of these military personnel worked at hieght of their intelligences. i believed that these PNP and MILITARY officers have drawn their contingency plan in relation to armed conflict.Have they? i am appealing to the latter to carefully and critically analyzed the action plan without sacrificing again another life- the life of the enlisted personnel of the pnp and military.for the government, i believe that you have better minds over this kidnappers, make use of it to lessen the problem. in my own opinion,there are instances that the government is not sensible enough to let the people feel the just and fairness treatment. though the actions of the kidnappers were cruel in some ways they were able to reach the government heart that to earn there attention is to sacrifice other’s lives. i guess they should take this as reflection.

  6. cris on June 18th, 2008 11:41 pm

    Buti na lang nakalaya na si Ces! Hindi ang mga Mamahayag ang may problem asi trabaho nila yun, ang dapat sisihin dyan yung Pamahalaan!!! Kung Tutuusin kayang-kaya ng mga Militar yan! Sigurado na my hawak dyan sa mga Abu sayyaf na taga-Malacanan din!!! tsk..tsk..tsk..

  7. cris on June 18th, 2008 11:43 pm

    Buti na lang nakalaya na si Ces! Hindi ang mga Mamahayag ang may problem kasi trabaho nila yun, ang dapat sisihin dyan yung Pamahalaan!!! Kung Tutuusin kayang-kaya ng mga Militar yan! Sigurado na may hawak dyan sa mga Abu sayyaf na yan na taga-Malacanan din!!! tsk..tsk..tsk..

  8. princess on June 20th, 2008 5:52 am

    its loren legarda behind that,she wanted to becomea new president thats why she did abduct the crew of ABSCBN for to become famous and peopl will vote her

  9. princess on June 20th, 2008 5:54 am

    si loren legarda ang my kinalalaman sa kidnapping na yan sigurado kami kc gusto mnya maging presidente

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