Gov’t mulls ‘options’ for release of Drilon et al--officials
‘No ransom’ policy stays
By Maila Ager, Thea Alberto, Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:35:00 06/17/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 2) The government has reiterated its “no ransom” policy against kidnappers but was not ruling out other options by the police and the military to ensure the release of a television reporter and two others from their abductors.
Aside from ongoing negotiations on the ground, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said police and military forces were also getting ready for other options if the situation involving ABS-CBN’s Ces Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Octavio Dinampo, Mindanao State University professor, would demand it.
The military is preparing rescue operations as an "extreme option" and that "conditions on the ground would dictate how and when" these would be carried out, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Alexander Yano said.
Philippine National Police Chief Avelino Razon Jr. said the PNP was gearing up for a “worst case scenario,” with its troops in place and “ready for immediate deployment.”
Dureza, Yano, and Razon issued the statements after abductors of Drilon and company extended the deadline of negotiations for their release “indefinitely.”
The kidnappers, whom have police identified as Albader Parad, Sulayman Patta, and a certain Walid, have demanded a P15 million ransom although Jun Isnaji, son of Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, told a press conference in Sulu that there was no mention of the money during negotiations early Tuesday.
“There are efforts being done by those who are directly handling the so-called negotiations,” Dureza said over radio.
“Ang atin pong PNP and AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] forces are also getting ready for other options available when the situations demand other options,” he said but did not elaborate.
In fact, Dureza said Razon was on the site to personally direct his people and ensure that the victims would be able to return home safely.
"The PNP is now making ready for any contingency in relation to the abduction of Ces Drilon et al, by the Abu Sayyaf Group...ground troops are in place including air and naval assets," Razon, who is in Zamboanga City to monitor the situation, said in a text message to reporters.
Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao police chief echoed this, saying they have weighed the risks involved.
"We are prepared for the worst case scenario...troops are in place as instructed by the Chief PNP. Nakikita na natin ang risk [We are beginning to see the risks]," said Goltiao in a phone interview.
"Yes, right from the start, that was always assumed to be an option, they are there ready, but as I've said, conditions on the ground will dictate how and when [the operation will be conducted]" Yano told reporters in Makati City, when asked if a military operation was an option to recover Drilon's group.
Yano declined to elaborate on the preparations, saying: "That is part of the option but we would not rather discuss into details as to that extreme option that may be availed."
"We will take necessary action on the basis of what's happening on the ground, and not on the payment of ransom or such similar concessions," he said, reiterating the government's “no ransom” policy.
The 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT), which was supposed to return to Manila for retraining, was placed on standby in Zamboanga
City for possible deployment to Jolo Island, to augment the existing six Marine battalions there, said Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag, Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy.
Asked what would trigger the start of a military operation to rescue the group, Yano said: "Such conditions cannot be divulged for operational reasons. We do not want to telegraph any move that will either compromise the safety of the hostages or the effectiveness of our operations."
Yano said troops in Sulu, which include the Philippine Marines and elite Army Scout Rangers, were "capable" of mounting pursuit operations.
The military chief said he saw the extension of Tuesday’s 12 noon deadline as a "positive development."
"We are concerned about the general condition of the hostages. We are hopeful that they will be released safely. We will immediately administer medical procedures, nutrition shall be provided, plan for airlift, and reunion with family are also considered," said Razon.
But Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that government forces would not do anything to jeopardize the negotiations.
“The best thing that we can do at the moment is to hope that these people will be rationale enough to know that they should somehow be given enough reason to release them unharmed. That’s very important,” Ermita said.
Presidential adviser on peace process Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s directive to get the victims unharmed remained.
“We are letting the people on the ground work on it. The directive is to help out and get Ces out of that bad situation,” said Esperon, former head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He then urged politicians to stay away from the negotiations and follow the standard operation procedure that there should only be one negotiator.
“We don’t have to get in there as if nothing is being done. We should leave it to local officials on the ground,” he said.
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