Remaining captives' families plead for hostages' freedom

MANILA, Philippines – The families of abducted broadcast journalist Cecilia Victoria “Ces" Oreña Drilon and cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion on Friday appealed to their captors to immediately free the remaining hostages being held by the Abu Sayyaf. This, as the families of the broadcast journalist and cameraman expressed relief over the release of driver Angelo Valderama. In a joint statement that was read over a radio station, the families of the two abducted members of the ABS-CBN news team said they were “happy and deeply relieved that Angelo Valderama has been freed." However, the victims’ families pleaded to the bandits to be compassionate and free the remaining captives - including Drilon, Encarnacion and Mindanao professor Octavio Dinampo - the soonest possible time. “We appeal to the kidnappers to also immediately release Ces and Jimmy as an act of compassion and humanity," the families said in the joint statement. The victims’ relatives also took time to thank the people who have been staying beside them throughout the ordeal, which began Sunday. “We thank everyone for praying for us in this most critical time," they said. On Thursday night, Valderama was released to the Abu Sayyaf’s chosen emissary, Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji in Sinumaan Village in Talipao, Sulu. Refusing to say if ransom was paid, Isnaji said Valderama was released by his abductors as a “gift." However, reports quoted Undersecretary Amilasan Amilbajar of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao as saying a P2-million "board and lodging fee" was paid in exchange for Valderama's freedom. Earlier reports said that the hostage-takers initially demanded a P10-million ransom then jacked it up to P50 million, before slashing that amount in half. Armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf group took the journalists on Sunday while they were on their way to the town of Maimbung in Sulu. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV