Peace advocate, ABS-CBN's Ces Drilon feared kidnapped in Sulu

Romy B. Elusfa/MindaNews contributor

Tuesday, 10 June 2008 09:21

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/9 June) -- A peace advocate and broadcast journalist Ces Drilon of ABS-CBN and her crew, have been reported missing and are believed to have been kidnapped in Sulu, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) said in a statement. With Drilon is the MPC chair, Prof. Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State University, who was serving as guide to the ABS-CBN crew. Dinampo, a resident of Indanan town, was expected by his wife, Hainatul, to be home Monday but he failed to show up or even send a text message. Reports gathered by MPC said they were reportedly abducted around 9 a.m. Monday somewhere between the towns of Kulasi and Maimbung. ABS-CBN has yet to issue a statement on the reported kidnapping. MindaNews sought confirmation from Chari Villa, head of the network's news gathering team but as of press time, Villa had sent no reply. Residents reportedly told Maimbung Mayor Najib Maldisa that Dinampo and Drilon's group were "blocked" by armed men, but members of the Tulong Lupah Sug (TLS), a Jolo-based non-government organization Dinampo also heads, said they have not yet concluded that the two were, indeed, kidnapped. "We will wait until 5 this afternoon. If they will not surface, we may consider them kidnapped already," said Zuring Gumbahali, a member of the TLS. By 7 p.m. June 9, MPC still had no news as to the whereabouts of Dinampo, Drilon and her crew. Earlier in the day, police and military personnel went to the residence of Dinampo to conduct preliminary inquiries about the alleged kidnapping, the MPC said. Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, MPC secretary-general, confirmed that Drilon and Dinampo “had been missing since yesterday." Dinampo, a professor of the Mindanao State University who took over the chairmanship of the MPC in February, has guided several other journalists around Sulu. Dinampo has also written some articles based on his interviews with Abu Sayyaf forces that landed on the front pages of national papers. His group has been actively monitoring the peace processes between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, as well as that of the Moro National Liberation Front. Fr. Roberto Layson, OMI, Dinampo's co-chair in the MPC, appealed to the abductors not to harm the victims “because he (Dinampo) is a man of peace." Arnado said they have organized a quick response team composed of Bantay Ceasefire volunteers who would be deployed to Sulu tomorrow to conduct their own investigation about the reported abduction. She said they would also assist in whatever negotiation and mediation efforts that will be necessary for the immediate release of the victims. Arnado added that they would also try to provide support for the family of Dinampo. Dinampo is also co-convenor of the Mindanao Peace Weavers, a network of organizations advocating peace in Mindanao. The MNLF under commander Khaid Adjibon said they were also trying to locate where the victims may have been brought. (Romy B. Elusfa / MindaNews contributor)