The embargo
June 11, 2008 by mlq3
Filed under Daily Dose
Only regained DSL last night, hence the hiatus (further delayed by the downpour and intermittent brownouts this afternoon!).
As you can imagine, I’m one of those quite worried over the fate of Ces Drilon, who I personally like very much indeed. She’s a gutsy lady.
But the story of her kidnapping has become hopelessly intertwined with that of the news embargo, upon ABS-CBN’s request, that took place for much of Monday.
The self-censorship among media outfits actually stretched from Sunday to nearly all of Monday. According to Ding G. Gagelonia (blogging on June 10),
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.
The embargo no longer being tenable, he briskly provided the details as they initially emerged:
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.â€
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.
My own understanding is that is that it was the government station, NBN-4, and not the wire services that broke the story. It was the government that forced an end to the embargo by reporting the kidnapping of Ces Drilon and Co. on its Monday evening news program. Since news on a government station has an official nature to it, it’s logical to assume that it was then that the wire services, which I understand had been unable to obtain a statement from ABS-CBN up to that point, could run with the story.
So let me say first of all that government appeals for “restraint” are pure, unadulterated bullshit. You have a rare instance where media exercised prudence (not altogether altruistically, as I’ll explore in a bit) but government, always eager to appeal for “restraint,” jumped the gun… The reasons for this could range from malicious glee (no love lost either for the network or Drilon on the part of officialdom) to a general interest in beating the war drums in Mindanao to provide a distraction for economic issues and expand the President’s political and military (one and the same) options.
Still, for a time, an embargo was asked for, and respected, while ABS-CBN tried to downplay the story. This explains the befuddlement experienced by bloggers like AlternNation101 whose hackles were immediately raised by the network’s (uncharacteristic) discretion:
So is this true? If it is, then why is it not on the headlines? If it is not, then why is abs-cbnnews.com not denying it?
I may be wrong but if asked to bet, I will bet on this NOT being true. I suspect that ABS-CBN is doing some story on the Abu-sayyaf and would like to use some opportunity to sensationalize it. Perhaps even the Abu-sayyaf is in on it to have some publicity too..
Well, wrong. There was a kidnapping, but I don’t know if I entirely agree with Gagelonia (in a subsequent, and thorough, roundup on emerging details on the kidnapping) who says it’s this sort of speculation that discredits citizen journalism. I’m not so sure. It only points to media having to once again confront the insistence in some quarters that media not get any brownie points for the hazards that accompany the job for those in the field. That, and and the general confusion surrounding kidnappings. This inevitably fosters speculation which will be rife when news embargoes are in place. And it’s also true that confusion was fostered by the embargo.
I’ve been looking at various blogger’s reaction to the kidnapping of Ces Drilon, and considering how antagonistic non-media bloggers tend to be, I’m surprised they haven’t seized on the embargo issue more ferociously.
Splice and Dice raises three issues raised by the kidnapping: personal culpability; the fragility of the peace process; and media’s handling of the kidnapping of one of its own:
For one, Drilon resisted the security offered by the military before entering the den of the terrorists. There’s a reason there that, perhaps, only Drilon knows and can explain better, although it’s tempting to say that it may have something to do with lack of trust, or with the very reason why she had to trouble herself of venturing into hostile land. She perfectly knew the harm that could most probably come their way, and I suspect she could easily see that with half an eye, but she continued physically unprotected. Which is ironic because she’s been with the military and the Abu Sayyaf in separate occasions for a number of times already, which is enough to compel her to call upon the hand of God or of man to stand by her side half of the way.
But some say the circumstance that the “missing” folks now have is a win-win plot: they get to have an insider scoop into the heart of the renegades while the renegades get free publicity. There’s even a theory linking the government with the abduction. But I leave the reader’s imagination to go into those depths.
Two is that Octavio Dinampo, a professor and MNLF senior Shura member who convenes the Bantay Ceasefire, was also kidnapped, which is ironic in the sense that he’s been entangled in the mesh and mess he’s been trying to mediate. It may not be a sufficient premise to say that even the messenger gets to be shoved into dire circumstances at some point, but Dinampo would have expected the day that he will soon be skimmed and fried in his own fat long before somebody else could tell him. That is so especially in a country where mitigation through mediation has rarely succeeded entirely.
And three, the media which has sworn to protect the public by informing us in many ways is now the same media, or a portion of it, which has sought to withhold information about Ces Drilon and others while the rest of us grope in the darkness. It’s the same issue that has stirred a mild storm among the members of the media themselves, which is patent enough in a democracy divided in both flesh and substance. Some say it’s a matter of balancing public interest with private interest—public interest being the public as it is, and private interest being the family, corporate and genetic, of Drilon and her crew—in cases where the delicate balance between life and death or harm is as thin as impoverished limbs.
But of these, it’s the last that concerns us, here. As smoke noticed,
I was also struck by this unintended but no less blatant exercise of power to control what the public knows.
Both echo, ironically, what journalist Vergel Santos said was objectionable about the embargo: it was an effort by ABS-CBN to “manage” the news. It could only do so, by means of a fraternal appeal to rival news organizations.
Here’s the network’s party line: ABS-CBN explains news blackout on Ces Drilon. And here’s Why Inquirer didn’t run big story:
Ressa phoned the Inquirer on Monday to appeal for a news blackout until 6 a.m. Tuesday while negotiations for the release of the ABS-CBN team were ongoing.
She told Magsanoc that reporting the abduction would pose a danger to the lives of Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama.
Ressa said the news blackout was important because the network was afraid that other extremist groups in the area might take advantage of the situation.
In response to Magsanoc’s reservations about the news blackout, Ressa said she had also appealed to other newspapers, ABS-CBN’s rival network GMA 7, the wire service agencies and the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines to observe a news blackout.
The Inquirer editor in chief initially suggested that the blackout last only until midnight of Monday, but Ressa appealed for up to 6 a.m. of the next day. She said one of the network’s news executives would be flying to Sulu to help in the negotiations.
So is the issue the actual embargo? To me, the issues are:
1. Why did government intervene to break it?
2. Whether the partially successful embargo provides a precedent for future embargoes.
3. Why were media outfits, none of whom have any love for each other, willing to accede to ABS-CBN’s appeal?
Regarding the first: having been in some crisis situations myself, I can appreciate how difficult it is to balance the public interest with the need to safeguard your own, and this is particularly so when you’re trying to figure out how to keep the Abu Sayyaf from going berserk, while at the same time not adding fuel to the fire: an AFP and PNP humiliated by the recent bombings in Mindanao might be tempted to substitute blundering about for real sleuthing, and cause more harm than good.
After all, from the point of view of the military and the Abu, journalists are expendable.
Still, a reflection on when a personal tragedy involves a public crime: the embargo is ultimately only justifiable, in this instance, if it sets a precedent for all media to impose a news blackout in the first, say, 24-48 hours of a kidnapping -any kidnapping. That is, unless the family of a victim or the institution the victim is associated with (preferably, both) specifically authorizes the media to report on the case. There may be a justification for an abduction being reported from the get-go: to prevent the kidnap victim from being liquidated (for example, Lozada) but in other cases, where the kidnappers are well known and have a track record, reticence may be in order. This is what one journalist (who happens to be President of NUJP) has suggested.
Which makes the illogical behavior of the government logical only if you assume (as I do) that there are hawks in the administration happy over any mayhem in Mindanao.
Concerning the second issue, see Arlene dela Cruz’s They kept asking about ransom, TV journalist recalls which points to the debate that must have taken place in many a newsroom in the country, and where dela Cruz’s views must have been echoed time and again as editors pondered on whether to go for the story or respect Maria Ressa’s appeal:
A journalist following his or her instinct would file that story right away. But remembering what had happened to me, my unsolicited advice at this stage is to keep pertinent details of the negotiation confidential—if indeed there’s already one—to ensure the safety of Ces and her crew.
Institutionally, I’m assuming media won’t let the hunt for a story extend to actually jeopardizing the safety of hostages: as the Peninsula caper proved, it would not only be condemned by the authorities, and the victims’ families, but the public, too (And an individual, and not just institutional level, there’s also the sobering “there, but for the grace of God, go I,” moment experienced by Julie Alipapa, see her How Inquirer correspondent eluded abduction).
And as for the third, was it just a matter of journalists being clubby?
More of a case of solidarity in adversity, methinks. For one thing, they know what it’s like to have one of their own kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, who are not, shall we say, cuddly people. For a taste of things to come for Drilon, let’s return to what Arlene dela Cruz recounted:
One day, they blindfolded and interrogated me regarding the text messages I was still getting on my mobile phone. Later in the night they pushed me into a shallow pit—and then someone pissed on me.
In the next few days, they kept asking me about the ransom. The torment only subsided when they turned me over to another group around the first week of February.
The uneasy calm allowed for some conversation between me and a man named Lakandula, one of their leaders.
“When will you, reporters, stop writing stories about the fighting in Sulu? Is that all what you reporters are after?†Lakandula then wondered aloud. “You write your report and that’s it. It’s all just work for you. Is that it? Just another ‘scoop’ from Sulu?â€
I remember the two of us having this exchange inside a hut, and outside we could see a group of women passing by.
“Do you see those women, their children? Every day they have to walk for several kilometers to draw water from the river. Why? Because they don’t have a source of water near their homes.â€
(Revision to my original comment re: Philippine Commentary: he denies he thinks Drilon had it coming.)
I hope Ces will be OK. But there are many who would want things to turn out otherwise.
Postscript: Coffee With Amee points out,
One does not venture out into uncharted territory without knowing full well the risks involved. It wasn’t like the previous coverage of the Peninsula takeover incident where we saw Drilon running around in heels wearing a headband to get to interview Trillanes et al. That one was unplanned supposedly. This one, they knowingly went to the territory where it is known that kidnappings do happen.
Having said this, the conundrum is, you know what you’re getting into and now you’re faced with the worst case scenario. What to do? There’s no simple black or white answer (Like the New York cookie. Okay, bad insert, but I saw it on “Ugly Betty†last night and I realized how much I missed it even if it’s a hit-or-miss depending on where you buy it.) It’s a bit of a gray area.
Even what ABS CBN did on their behalf regarding the news blackout request is strictly off the textbooks and one where a journ professor will most probably tell his students that it depends on the situation.
If I were the editor, if I chose to honor the news blackout request, it would be for the reason that I personally know the journalists being held captive and that I’m personally concerned. But c’mon, given a nameless, faceless person in their stead, I would highly doubt that media would hold on to the news knowing full well the important value of the story.
On the other hand, if I were ABS CBN and there were indeed ongoing negotiations, would I have asked for a news blackout from colleagues? It would be hard to say. But most probably, no. Rather than have another news outlet report the incident with inaccurate information, I believe it would be best to release a statement from the network involved. That is, if it is indeed true that they will not be paying ransom to give in to the demands of the kidnappers.
A brief addendum, based on a conversation I had with a colleague yesterday.
1. Coming at the heels of the Peninsula Caper, the embargo will inspire the network’s critics to reassert their resentments and antipathy against journalists.
2. Having asked for a favor, ABS-CBN now owes the other networks and media outfits. Not a good situation, pragmatically to say the least.
3. The embargo as I said above, is only acceptable if it is taken, industry-wide, as laying down a precedent for all future coverage of all future kidnappings. Otherwise, it will simply reinforce the contempt of the network’s critics.
And, as The Warrior Lawyer asks, the dilemma now is, to pay or not to pay ransom? The government’s hands, in this case, are tied: it established giving in to ransom and other demands as government policy in the case of Iraq. Since it’s government that serves as the best deterrent to the natural instincts of private entities to ransom hostages, there isn’t any incentive for ABS-CBN to do otherwise.
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DJB Rizalist on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 7:39 pm
MLQ3,
My post blames the Peace Processors like General Ben Muhammad Dolorfino who paid ransom for his own kidnapping, not Ces Drilon! The terrorists responsible are reportedly the same group that kidnapped Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, whom I suspect the Catholic Church also ransomed.
I hope you will correct the misrepresentation of my post, though the title seems clear enough:
Ces Drilon Is Paying For Coddling of Terrorists by Dureza, Dolorfino and Garcia
Of course it all began also at Dos Palmas, when GMA ransomed her billionaire contributor Reghis Romero.
I am deeply troubled by the taking of Ces Drilon, but I am a little puzzled at the NUJP’s statement that “there is no reason to kidnap journalists who are only after the truth”.
Now this is pure moonbattery and indicative of the arrogant press. Why? are non journalists okay to kidnap because they are not after the ever loving truth like journalists are. Yecch!
No one should be kidnapped and terrorists should not be paid ransom. Maybe that was the real reason for the embargo so ABSCBN could arrange it.
Much as I sympathize with Ces (truly!) there are some awful realities about terrorism that the liberals just won’t accept. They don’t deserve to be kidnapped for it but here is the law they have created: every ransom paid sets up the next kidnapping.
Blast the Church for ransoming the missionary. They are responsible for this to some extent, but noo, you think it’s just GMA’s way of diverting attention from her problems.
C’mon MLQ3, let’s be clear who the real enemies are. It’s the terrorist bandits like Radulan Sahiron and Albader Parad.
DJB Rizalist on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 7:45 pm
I found the NUJP statement particularly depressing and reprehensible as the implication is they think the ambuscades and beheadings last year were okay and our Marines had IT coming to them. Again, Yecch! Again, after Gen. Rodolfo Garcia was aired for 18 months intoning “We just want to find out who did the beheadings.” they never have, no one has been brought to justice for those inhumane atrocities by terrorist beasts and now the NUJP says crap like this. Double yecch! It’s Dolorfino, Dureza, and Garcia to blame, and yeah GMA too for dangling that entirely unconstitutional 1000 barangay Bangsamorostan she wants to setup for the New Maguindanao Confederacy of the mILF to turn Mindanao into Afghanistan.
When will people wake up?
Bencard on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 8:21 pm
i first heard of the “missing” abs-cbn crew in mindanao on sunday a.m. (our time) straight from the horse’s mouth and never heard of it since. i was wondering why the usually hysterical alarmists at the network were so quiet. now, it turns out to be a “news embargo” instigated by the same network.
i’m not a big fan of ces drilon or her employer. her role in the manila pen caper (said to have acted as human shield for the perps), among others, shows how they operate. but i wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to her in the pursuit of her trade or her politics. kidnapping of anyone for ransom is a crime that cries out for extreme punitive justice.
but to insinuate blame on the government for such a heinous act, or construing its call for “restraint” as an exhortation for self-censorship, is definitely a stretch. the suggestion that the administration is jumping out with glee over the incident is unmitigated bull, stemming from rabid partisanship if not downright irresponsibility.
one thing is not clear to me. what’s the whole point of the attempted news blackout? how long did they expect to keep it a ‘known’ secret? has the media the power to turn the news on and off whenever it wants to?
PhilwoSpEditor on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 9:16 pm
For the sake of person’s safety, I say ABSCBN did the right thing. It’s their responsibility, first and foremost to ensure the safety of their employees. It is their responsibility because they sent her there.
Although blocking news from the general public is almost always against the concepts Media stands for, censorship for this case was excusable in my opinion.
@DJB Rizalist
“I am deeply troubled by the taking of Ces Drilon, but I am a little puzzled at the NUJP’s statement that “’there is no reason to kidnap journalists who are only after the truth’.”
It’s troubling, but the saddest part is that the TRUTH is the reason why Journalists are being kidnapped or silenced. Or in the Govt’s case, it’s the reason why they keep on launching these issues that make them a bunch of prima donnas with crowns and positions.
By the way, Terrorists aren’t the only enemies here, but the institutions that try to defy the voice and decision of the people. Get that thing clear. [I do have a grudge against those NBN people that made me look like some conformist idiotic student.]
DJB Rizalist on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 9:52 pm
PhilwoSpEditor:
With geniuses like Dureza, Dolorfino and Garcia, we are indeed our own worst enemy. It’s a vicious circle from kidnapping to ransom to kidnapping, with a lot of bleeding heart pity-the-poor-oppressed terrorist freedom fighters hand-wringing in between. But the Media must give up the illusion that it can stand above the fray, that their “search for the truth” benedights them somehow and makes them immune from the cruel realities of terrorism. Look at how, together with the Left, so many people in Media make absolutely no distinctions and blame the entire AFP and Police and Govt as being in cahoots on “extrajudicial killings”–yet they are ever so careful to distinguish the Abu Sayyaf, MILF and MNLF, who are really a menage-a-trois Jekyll and Hyde act. Until we accept that paying ransom is like throwing gasoline into a fire, we are condemned to suffer within that vicious circle.
The same bunch did Fr. Bossi, who was released under suspicious circumstances to say the least. I’m convinced a ransom was paid after those Marines were beheaded and the peace processors stopped the police from serving arrest warrants on 110 of their “partners in the peace process”.
ricelander on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 10:12 pm
I’m just wondering: how will a news blackout help?
And another: if she’s somebody else and the family pleads media for a news blackout, will media take heed?
DJB Rizalist on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 10:31 pm
Ricelander,
If Ces Drilon were my sister or daughter, I’d be eager to do whateverit takes to get her back safe and sound, including paying ransom. I doubt that intellectual fortitude and the knowledge that paying ransom sets up the next kidnapping would not be able to overcome the emotion stirred by thoughts of what those inhuman monsters have done in the past and are capable of doing to her. So much as we might wish this was not happening, it is likely that the news blackout was to facilitate whatever negotiation and exchange is being required by the kidnappers, something impossible to do in the full glare of publicity. Just a theory. And I hope MLQ3 doesn’t think I’m just tsk tsking here. I know personally about cruel terror of kidnapping. It’s as tragic, if not more, than outright murder. And yeah, the Islamos and the CPP NPA do it all the time, to policemen, soldiers, farmers and plain ordinary nonjournalistic folks, but the Media does its own tsk tsking on those occasions, very professionally and code of ethically at that.
It’s to do with not accepting the existence of a state of war that is not of our choosing, but also is outside of our ability to wish away. It’s a war whose existence we deny only at our own peril.
Blogie Robillo on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 10:45 pm
Here’s something to think about –
http://villageidiotsavant.blogspot.com/2008/06/shoe-on-other-foot.html
BrianB on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 10:47 pm
Iba talaga friendship network. Mas effective pa kesa kung nasa side ka nang batas. By all means, let’s make exceptions to all our friends so we can all go to Pinoy Heaven.
Silent Waters on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 10:55 pm
That requested embargo was the greatest bullshit request made by media ever made. Why is it if ordinary folks (and by ordinary I mean “kidnappables”) are abducted, and requests are made by relatives and friends of said kidnap victim to stay quiet are allowed to be ignored, pero kung media, dapat nasunod??? That just tells me more how media view themselves as being higher beings from us mortals. PULLEEZZZZ
BrianB on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 10:56 pm
DJB, agree. Dapat talagang murahin mga journalist nun.
They acted like cowardly peacekeeprs, yung mga tipong basta peace at whatever cost. Pipigilan nalang nila kung sino ang pwede nilang pigilan. Yung mga totoong criminal na ayaw nilang pigilan, iniispoil nila.
Peace advocates like these probably have never been into a fist fight. For peace, you need to stop criminals even if criminals are monolithic like these hacenda owners. Justice gives peace.
Silent Waters on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 10:58 pm
Agree ako sa sinabi mo ricelander…..kaya nga galit ako sa journalists kasi feeling nila iba dapat trato sa kanila…
BrianB on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 10:59 pm
I am not saying they are bad people but they are not thinking properly. They are letting fear of death cloud their judgments.
Bencard on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 11:01 pm
how can censorship, whether or not self-imposed, served the interest and safety of a person kidnapped? would it impel the kidnappers not to make good their threats if their demands were not met? what a cockamamie idea. the media should be the first to realize that you cannot hide events that the public wants, and has the right, to know. media people should not be heard to complain when the shoe is on the other foot.
BrianB on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 11:02 pm
Silent,
Pa-elite din kasi itong mga journalist. Just because sometimes they hob-knob with the rich and Cokeheads elite na din daw sila. They should watch the movie “The Paper” again. remember what Duvall said to Glenn Close? I paraphrase: “You may rub shoulders with them in cocktail parties but you are not one of them and shouldn’t try to be one of them.
Silent Waters on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 11:13 pm
BrianB
You’re certainly correct. Actually, I don’t find it wrong if the request was made to protect the journalist, but sana they should also be able then to follow the request of other kidnap victims’ relatives and friends. Eh, nakikipag unahan pa sila sa pag scoop ng mga ongoing na pangyayari di ba? ANg point, dapat patas ang pagtrato. It shouldn’t matter whether rich or poor, civilians, military or what have you, etc. Pero sa totoo lang, it’s always about an angle they need to exploit to advance their networks/media entities. Tignan mo ang nangyari sa Dos Palmas and you’ll know what I mean.
BrianB on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 11:33 pm
Lokohan lang yan. Lahat sila gustong maging elite. If you know some of them especially the not-very-subtle ones akala mo parak.
Chabeli on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 11:42 pm
When I heard the news that Ces was “kidnappedâ€, I was horrified. I could not believe it was true. Having known her for several years, it’s an undescribable feeling when someone you actually know has been abducted, after all, there is a big difference when you know OF a person versus knowing the person. I can’t say we are the best of friends, but I can say she a real friend. Thank goodness it was a weekend when I heard about the horrible news because I had the time to allow myself to feel what I was feeling. Had it been a work day, it would have been tough at work for me. I must admit it was unbelievable at first, & so I called her on her cell phones. Her phones were turned off. That’s when I felt scared actually – & then my imagination had all these wild thoughts of she being harmed; wondering whether she was okay. I could only do so much in getting information. I was afraid that no was supposed to know yet. Like many here in Ellensville, I too, wondered why the news black out ?
Some days have passed already since Ces & her crew have gone missing. All I can actually do is pray like several of you have mentioned. If I am feeling worried, that is only an iota of what her family must be feeling.
One thing I know though is that Ces is a real friend any one could have. At this point, I think it’s best to think that this particular episode will be her biggest scoop !
I can’t wait to hear her laughter again !
cvj on Wed, 11th Jun 2008 11:57 pm
Chabeli, i agree. Let’s pray this issue gets resolved peacefully.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 12:15 am
I don’t understand the arrogance of a community, an institution that makes exceptions to principles long established by people far wiser than they ever will be. This is a betrayal of public trust. They keep doing this more people will be put in harm’s way. You can debate the rest of the journalistic world about it if you want, the Philippine media is wrong to make this exception. They show weakness, they show they cannot be trusted. Everyone becomes their enemy. Puro kayo sympathy sa mga special individuals, what you do not know is that by giving special privileges to one person, you are inconveniencing thousands.
All your education did not teach you how to think.
Chabeli on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 12:57 am
Ooops, should read: Like many here AND in Ellensville, I too, wondered why the news black out ?
[splice] on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 1:04 am
@BrianB
Correct me if I am wrong, but I am getting the impression that you’re all for letting Ms Drilon fry in hostile waters. because she should not be an exception; that no blackout should have been made (assuming there was, or is, considering the fact that there were “leaks” almost everywhere) just because she’s “just” Ces Drilon.
By saying “just” I can feel a tingle in my spine, and it isn’t comfortable, but that’s another story.
So, BrianB, am I getting the right signal? Or would you be kind enough to straighten things out for me as I’m not the wise one here.
PhilwoSpEditor on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 1:39 am
Ok, I get the point about this so called ’special treatment’ with the news blackout and its the fault of those who started it and implemented the request, but how do we go about it? Should the gov’t create or implement policies that go with ‘no negotiations with kidnappers’?
Terrorists aren’t supposed to be negotiated with, but to resort with brute force? I doubt that would solve anything either. It all goes down to lesser evil and what the prima donnas from both sides want to choose.
Silent Waters on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 1:48 am
@splice
I think BrianB is just making the point na dapat walang special. Everybody should be treated the same…meaning if media requires a news blackout for their kind, it should alos do the same for others when a request is made. Point being, huwag mong sabihin porke’t journalist ka, special ka.
Silent Waters on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 1:51 am
At the end of the day, it’s part of the hazards of the job di ba? You go into harm’s way deliberately, then the possibility exists that you’ll get harmed. (extreme examples are those journalists killed/maimed in Iraq).
Of course we wish them to be safe. But then again, their hunger to scoop a story may have gotten the better of their judgement.
Silent Waters on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 1:58 am
In fact, the only reason why this is big news is because SHE is Ces Drilon. Eh what if it’s just a “lowly” journalist…baka isang araw lang na balita…then kalimutan na….
supremo on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 2:04 am
This incident only shows that the national government is weak and cannot implement the rule of law in every corner of the Philippines.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 2:48 am
A journalist, who’s job it is to put herself under harm’s way is now the de facto Queen of this country and her Majersty’s reporters have shown what their priorities really are: not their jobs, not tested and proven journalistic policies but the Queen. Ang problema daming Queen… Jessica Soho, Tina Palma, Korina Sanchez, etc.
hawaiianguy on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 2:49 am
supremo,
If you remember, no less than Gloria herself proudly said, in a TV footage (I recall, from ABS-CBN), to the Abu Sayyaf: “Isang bala lang kayo.” Since then, however, the military have been bragging around that they would eliminate the Abu Sayyaf within a year or two. Well, it’s now 2008 and those bad guys are still there pestering not only the govt (remember the Basilan beheading of the marines?) but also civilians who stray into their lair.
Now, who says the govt has done its job to liquidate terrorism?
grd on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 2:54 am
supremo, that fact is no secret. the govt cannot dis-arm the muslims in muslim mindanao. plus there’s the communist rebels. there’s also these rich influential people who get away with their crimes like former batangas governor leviste.
as per gma-news, ransom demand is 10 million pesos and reportedly abs-cbn will not pay due to its “no ransom” policy.
one of abs-cbn reporters, ma-an macapagal was also abducted before. was there a news embargo also that time? did abs-cbn impose their “no ransom” policy? maybe they paid for her “board and lodging” only.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 2:55 am
Kung policy nila is to delay reporting kidnappings, especially terrorist kidnappings, dapat noon palang ginawa na nila. Pinapakita lang nila, walang kwenta mga Pilipino. Ang may kwenta lang kapamilya at kaibigan nila.
Bullshit talaga mga pinoy na to. Puro bullshit ang utak. I can understand ABS doing this for an important member of their organization, but the newspapers? Inquirer? Pag ako kinidnap nang mga Abu, media blackout din ba kayo? Ano ako aso? Si Ces, ano? Santo? Hindi naman inosenteng tao yan si Ces, alam nya pinuntahan nya.
You’ve just made the kidnappers very powerful, ore powerful than the President or the people of this country. You know as well as I do maski 85 million pang tao ang mag request nang media blackout hindi nyo gagawin. Pero dahil may feelings kayo kay Ces ginawa nyo ang imposible.
Do you guys know how improbable this media silence is? Tatlong araw walang may nag-report, maski blogger!
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 3:02 am
yeah if you’re not as charming as Ces, sorry nalang. I think they should just pay. They’ve done worse already. ten million lang naman eh. Isang bwan na cocaine lang yan.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 3:21 am
splice,
I care that the kidnappers would get rich again. I care that a reporter is in danger. I care about all those kidnapped. Dapat nga bayaran na lang nila. baliktad utak nitong abs. They’d rather go on a news embargo eh journalist sila but won’t pay eh hindi naman sila police.
supremo on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 3:53 am
Are there insurance companies in the Philippines that offer kidnap insurance?
mlq3,
Is this part of your benefits at ANC?
d0d0ng on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:05 am
Kidnapping for ransom is a big business in Muslim Mindanao. The No-Ransom-policy is all just propaganda. Even the Burnhams could have not been released without US dollar paid.
The Philippine government has just spoken from its tough horseshit mouth for rescue, no-ransom and destroy the terrorists. Ahem. Even with US military support and special forces, the ASG has continued to operate with impunity even with the presence of large Philippine government troops in the south. With the departure of tired foreign peacekeepers, the Muslim south is on the path of war again after repeatedly ignored by the Imperial Manila.
The funny thing, media and bloggers alike are talking of news embargo. He-he-he.
KG on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:26 am
Right now I would want to agree with what Brian B is saying, but he also said he’s a humanist.
Is being a humanist defined as removing all emotions and act like MR. Spock evrytime at dapat what’s good for the goose…..
On friends and family.
Ako din siguro I could talk like bakit me special special.
On the debate on overkills,I would not like to join dahil me pinsan ako naratrat na ng swat.
oh what about that marine beheadings me kaibigan din ako nabehead not the latest one,but on the early nineties.
sa coups, me kinakapatid ako at me kasama pa sya na sinamahan pa namin para lang makapagtest sa pma at years before that mga ama naman ng mga barkada ko yung involved.And years before that tatay ko pa ang nag court martial sa mga gma 7 incident.
it is not easy to be “humanist” pag kamag anak,kaibigan o kakilala mo na ang involved.
benign0 on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:28 am
You know what? Whatever way this thing ends, ABS-CBN wins. And for the public, it’ll just be another spectacle to gawk at.
Everybody wins. Guess who loses…
d0d0ng on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:40 am
supremo on, “Are there insurance companies in the Philippines that offer kidnap insurance?”
Wow, I will be surprised if there is one that can survive the kind of business in Mindanao. Imagine, not only ransom indemnity but it has to reimburse payments to the military and police. Double whammy! Aray!
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 5:02 am
supremo,
Di daw nila policy mag bayad nang ransom, pero policy nilang pumili nag i-rireport. Parang pulitiko din itong journalists na to. Gagawa nang di tama tapos irarationalize lang nila sa publiko at gagawin pa tayong mga bobo.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 5:15 am
“Everybody wins. Guess who loses…”
Er, is it you? But you’re right in the other things you say about Pinoys. They just lack sincerity, earnestness and the only things that have serious imports are family, friends like Ces Drilon and money like that 10 million php that pinoys rufuse to part with. Policies, principles, the law and even religion are not serious enough for Pinoys. And when I’m talking about Pinoys I really mean Filipinos… the true “Filipinos,” to be exact. Yung mga anak ng mga insulares.
d0d0ng on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 5:43 am
hawaiianguy on, “who says the govt has done its job to liquidate terrorism?”
Never happened in Philippine history. The military establishment has become a bureaucratic monster feeding on the national budget with its largest share (that should have gone to basic necessities of the masses) and the foreign military aid. The country spend so much money on fighting its own people. Time and time again, the military generals were boasting to crush the enemies during their tenure, and yet the old war continues. Like the proverbial leeches, the military in order to become relevant needs its war against the ASG and NPA.
And if that is not enough, the military sometimes flexes its muscles against the civilian authority (coup rumors) to ensure its budget. A different twist of homegrown terrorism.
DJB Rizalist on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:32 am
The Human Security Act is relevant and applicable. But I remember many long threads on this blog arguing the “definition of terrorism”. Yet I doubt such disquisitions would have any value now. Like pornography, also hard to define, we do know terrorism when we see it.
Yet look at that law: it is impossible to implement now because of the amendments and “human rights protections” built into it by Nene Pimentel and Comrade Jamby Madrigal, and the rest of the unmugged Liberals in the Congress, who basically passed a Terrorists Bill of Rights. Also, I’m looking at my file of choice quotations from PDI, ABSCBN, bloggers and others holding forth on the subject. Yet I would be sick at heart to throw it in their faces now, knowing how unnecessary and superfluous it would be. I am sure overhearing one’s former thoughts and statements ought to be enough to bring about catharsis and self-discovery. (Or maybe not…!)
As the old saying goes, a conservative is just a liberal who’s gotten mugged. Lots of armchair humanitarians and liberals will be transformed by this perhaps, (though less at Ellenville where they’re going off into ozonic tangents as usual).
One myth that must be blown up is that ASG is somehow different from MILF and MNLF. It’s a lethal distinction lots of people have bought into, much like the distinction between the CPP NPA and its front organizations and rival movements, distinctions we do not accord the govt, military or police.
The key thing to observe is that our “partners in the peace process” never help in turning in or apprehending the “lost commands”, “lawless elements” or “bandits” — labels that are the banners of political correctness unfurled because they refuse to call a spade a spade.
I don’t think liberals in the press will ever read Luwaran dot com in quite the same way again.
It is times like this when people must confront their own worst fears in order to discover what they truly believe. It’s tragic that we only seem to learn the hard way.
The govt certainly deserves a lot of blame for this, though not the troops on the ground. It’s the “intellectuals” like GMA, Dureza, Garcia, Dolorfino, who’ve been pressured, constrained, influenced by the Mass Media itself and other “intellectuals” who cannot see or think straight…until the truck coming down the road hits them square in the face.
Connect the dots from Reghis Romero, to Angelo de la Cruz, to Sipadan, to Dos Palmas, to Lamitan, to Arlyn de la Cruz. I just hope we all get the picture…the terrorists have declared war on human civilization, even their own, but selfk-defense begins at home.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:34 am
Ganito mga journalists sa Pinas. Kung maliit ka, they’ll think nothing of stealing from you or threatening you with a lawsuit if you complain.
http://www.photo.net.ph/blogalicious/2008/06/09/philippine-photographer-sues-major-daily-for-copyright-infringement/
Kung malaking tao ka and they are your friend, they are the kindest, most righteous people in the world. Kung malaking tao ka and they are your enemy, they will act like martyrs putting themselves in harms way for truth and the people daw.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:48 am
“In this sense, the decision among rival media outfits to respect ABS-CBN’s request for an embargo means that a policy shift has taken place. An embargo should now be standard operating procedure for all the media in the initial hours of a kidnapping.”
Wow, this is so logical. SO LOGICAL I WONDER WHY NO ONE AMONG THE MEDIA REALIZED THIS SOONER… LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. This proves to me one thing, Manolo and others… you only care about yourselves. Lumabas kulay nyo.
nash on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:50 am
Root Cause Analysis: Who, in the first place institutionalised the ‘paying of ransom’?
Aba, magandang cottage industry pala itong kidnapping because it pays dividends…
ASG, MILF are plain bandits. Wala namang ipinaglalaban mga yan ideologically etc..ek-ek…they are simply capitalists who have found a lucrative business.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 7:06 am
Kunwari policy shift. In the past, when police or families of KFR victims plead silence media ignore them. Because media don’t care about those people, they are not famous journalists. In today’s Inquirer Editorial, magulo daw masyado yung area of kidnapping. Magulo ba talaga or maybe you are just morphing the truth to justify the embargo? Anger the terrorists if you reported the kidnapping? Wah? They are terrorists. Kaya nga media kinidnap nila para pagusapan. Come on, now I don’t know if you are lying without shame or just continuing your bullshit?
Ang title, akalain mong ito : Judgement Call
Kaya nga may mga policies, journalists are not supposed to make that kind of judgment call. Hindi ad hoc mga principles na yan. Matagal dinivelop yan. panahon pa yan nina Socrates.
Now I wonder if the Philippine media can actually maintain this new SOP daw.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 7:08 am
Manolo, wag nyo nang hintayin pagsabihan pa kayo nang mga Kano na mali ginawa nyong lahat.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 7:10 am
<blockquote?We are, however, duty-bound to do unto others as we would do unto ourselves.
Methinks thou protest too much. Gets nyo?
djb_uang on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 7:57 am
djb rizalist wrote earlier:
“I am deeply troubled by the taking of Ces Drilon, but I am a little puzzled at the NUJP’s statement that “there is no reason to kidnap journalists who are only after the truthâ€.
Now this is pure moonbattery and indicative of the arrogant press. Why? are non journalists okay to kidnap because they are not after the ever loving truth like journalists are. Yecch!”
this is typical of the idiocy of this guy djb rizalist. are you plain stupid or you intentionally misread the NUJP’s statement to justify your hopelessly senseless rant? read the statement for what it says, NOT FOR WHAT YOU THINK IT SAYS OR DOESN’T SAY!
you’re a rabble-rouser, djb rizalist, i get that, but be a sensible rabble-rouser. or are you just trying to bait people into picking an online fight with you (in the hope perhaps that they visit your blog)?
also, mlq3, the reason the government broke the embargo is simple: it’s not required to observe that embargo in the first place. the embargo was just for media, period.
cvj on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 8:18 am
Isn’t NBN-4 part of media?
mlq3 on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 8:49 am
d0d0ng, i think muslim mindanao has gotten heaps of attention -it’s just, the wrong kind, they bet on the warlords and an ex-mnlf faction and they haven’t delivered. just as ramos bet on misuari. and the peace process was not given the priority attention it required because there’s the camp of the hawks in the cabinet.
supremo, i’ve never heard of kidnap insurance.
mlq3 on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 8:53 am
djb, again, if we ever get to the point of a next government, i hope the first thing it does is repeal the human security act. and then brings the penal code up to date.
this is a kidnapping. it ought to fall and be attended to according to pre-existing laws.
The Ca t on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:05 am
I agree with Brianb
Only the kidnappers in uniform would warn the family of the victims not to tell the media about the kidnapping. Mabubuking sila. So when one very prominent business tycoon was kidnapped, it was only published as a blind item by one respected columnist.
Terrorists would own their crime especially if it will impress to the public how they can evade security and military.
Yon ngang karamihan vinivideo pa.
In the book of the survivor of the kidnapping of Abu S group, she narrated how these people contacted certain authorities just so they can bring to the media, their demand. They’re not afraid to be caught because they keep on moving i.e. not staying more than 24 hours in one place.
She belied the media’s report that there was no ransom paid. She said that the first payment did not reach the group. May mga dumuhapang na mga nakauniporme.
anthony scalia on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:22 am
when ABS CBN declared a news blackout on the Ces incident, what they’re really saying is this – to the rest of the media, you can’t make money covering one of our staff
no-payment-of-ransom-policy? as someone said earlier, ‘reimbursement’ for ‘board and lodging’ na lang
siyempre, ABS CBN has the sole exclusive rights to “The Ces Drilon Story” movie
(may Ces and co. be safe and rescued asap. as for their kidnappers, tamaan sana sila ng cancer ni Rudy Fernandez)
anthony scalia on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:29 am
The Ca t,
so there must be some truth to the joke that one of the negotiators named robert is also called robot
supremo on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:32 am
mlq3,
‘i’ve never heard of kidnap insurance.’
That’s something to think about during contract signing. It’s expensive but available.
Jeg on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:43 am
[cue Twilight Zone music]
I see the future… I see… presidentiables… theyre… theyre offering to talk to the kidnappers to negotiate for Drilon’s release… ahhhhhhh.
[comes out of trance]
Where am I?
hvrds on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:49 am
To draw an analogy to recent historical events where state power is almost non-existent.
There are certain areas in Mindanao that resemble Beirut in the good old days. You had battle royales between warlords plus Islamic fundamentalism thrown in.
That is when the famous or infamous arms for hostages caper knwon as Iran-Contra was instigated and accomplished by men at the highest levels of the Reagan administration to relase American hostages held by Hezbollah.
The ABS-CBN crew must know that they were in a no man’s land. Even to define it as a war zone is problematical. It is similar to the wild tribal areas in Pakistan and areas of Afghanistan where it is believe Usama resides.
Do you simply wipe out every living thing there as the Americans used to do a century ago, (as the American jihadist would love), or look for other means which can be also lenghty and filled with bumps.
There is no basic fundamental model that one can use to solve these seemingly endless events that seem to repeat themselves.
Maria Ressa herself has put out writings and programs concerning her take on the Islamic insurgency in our neck of the woods.
These guys whoever they are seem to operate from the seat of their pants.
That makes it all the more difficult for anyone to put a handle to them.
This is truly a difficult position for the families who are invovled.
The folks at ABS-CBN should be reminded that their press cards do not entitle them to a pass or talisman when they involve themselves in an area where conflict is ill defined.
Silent Waters on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:54 am
Malapit na kasi election, so its time to gather the financial resources na…..
benign0 on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:59 am
Journalists need to be reminded that this information that they presume to be “entitled” to is RE-SOLD AT A PROFIT by their employers.
This whole “duty-to-uphold-freedom-of-information” crap is so 1980’s.
Any outcome good or bad, ABS-CBN shareholders are laughing all the way to the bank.
…any material, content, or information in any form, video, digital, print, or any medium that can be reproduced or transmitted electronically that is created whilst under the EMPLOYMENT of ABS-CBN becomes the property of ABS-CBN, blah blah blah… – or something to that effect
Time to tell your brokers to start buying you-know-who’s shares.
-
Bencard on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:08 am
benigno, and these sad sacks at abs-cbn think and insist that they are doing “public service”. in a way, they do – for a price, as you rightly pointed out.
mlq3 on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:31 am
supremo, decent wages first. health insurance next. more exotic insurance later.
Liam Tinio on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:33 am
quoted for truth
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:47 am
The worst brainless comment to come out on Ces’ kidnapping is that one from Ermita who blamed her for not coordinating with the security forces. Military escorts for an interview with the Abu Sayyaf? Of course she wouldn’t be kidnapped. Who would kidnap a journalist who just died in a crossfire? This moron is a disgrace to all the stupid people!
Liam Tinio on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:10 am
1. gantihan lang
2. a precedent for “news management”?! haha. but inquirer is making it a precedent as per http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080611-141989/Why-Inquirer-didnt-run-big-story and http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080611-141989/Why-Inquirer-didnt-run-big-story
3. interests, an opportunity for an I-Owe-You. they may not have love for each other, but they are, of course, solid for the interests of MEDIA per se
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:18 am
KG,
Was that the GMA takeover incident led by Col. Rey Cabauatan? I have inside info on that one, it’s a fake.
anthony scalia on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:18 am
who would it be? Loren or Kabayan?
anthony scalia on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:22 am
Tongue-Twisted,
‘coordinating with the security forces’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘having military escorts’
Liam Tinio on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:27 am
who would it be? Loren or Kabayan?
Mar Roxas hahahah
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:28 am
mlq3:
“…and the peace process was not given the priority attention it required because there’s the camp of the hawks in the cabinet.”
How would ABS-CBN react if they hear Gloria ordering new Peace Adviser Esperon to coordinate Ces’ release? Forget the no-ransom policy and double it. ASAP!
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:52 am
anthony,
Not necessarily “visible” human military escorts. Could be GPS gadgets. Could be bounty hunters. Could be invisible (to Drilon) surveillance teams.
Sahiron carries a $5 million reward and any info of a journalist meeting with Sahiron would definitely send these guys (including active military officers) into a surveillance frenzy. Drilon could just end up as a statistic under the column Collateral Damage once Sahiron’s presence is positively identified.
DJB Rizalist on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:53 am
MLQ3,
I entirely agree with repealing the Terrorist Bill of Rights, though for reasons other than yours. But no law enforcer would dare touch the Human Security Act — for fear of 44 provisions that contain jail time and fines for THEM, not the terrorists.
As for “uang” the coward with not even the originality to use his or her own name, living in your skull is punishment enough for your ad hominem arguments. You must be a leftist, hiding in the usual hole of anonymity. Why? Are you ashamed of your own ideas, if any?
DJB Rizalist on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 12:17 pm
MLQ3,
I am curious how you would “update” the penal code, which by the way is all the law enforcers have to rely on today anyway since HSA is so radioactive against them.
I aver that there are ordinary kidnappings and there are terrorist kidnappings. The difference being that in the former it is only the family and friends of those kidnapped that are really affected. But this thing with Ces holds the entire country hostage to the politics of the Islamists. The Star I believe thinks these guys are Jemaah Islamiya, which of course is also Al Qaeda.
Surely there is no comparison between political kidnappings and ordinary kidnappings, which hardly ever target such well known personalities. This was done primarily for the propaganda value.
Judging by some of the comments, dhimmitude has already set in among the mentally susceptible.
DJB Rizalist on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 12:22 pm
Tongue,
It was for the sake of the “peace process” that Dolorfino-Dureza-Garcia saved the self-confessed ambushers and beheaders of those Marines last year from the arrest warrants issued by the Basilan RTC. It is for the sake of the “peace process” that GMA has been dangling a 1000-barangay homeland and vacation area for the long-beards of Waziristan in the Pulangi River area. Besides, if we treat the MILF now to such a thing, it is most likely that the MNLF or the NMLF (Next Moro Liberation Front) will then go on the warpath, since they hate each other as much as they hate the Christians, the Americans and their Filipino “running dogs”.
Journalistic exceptionalism notwithstanding, we are all in grave peril, as much from them as from the dhimmis.
UP n student on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 12:29 pm
to d0d0ng : I know you have already reached your conclusion about Pinas military spending, but other bloggers can do their own research about what percent of the budget is spent for the military. Just look at the percent-numbers for Cuba, Venezuela, Pinas, Thailand, Indonesia.
Mike on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 12:55 pm
You’re too quick to dismiss the embargo as an issue and turn the guns back at the government again. The Philippine media is so quick to use phrases like “the people have a right to know”, yet here they are trying to withhold information from the public.
And calling the embargo even a “partial success” is a bit of a stretch seeing how silly it has ABS-CBN looking, with other news outfits reporting the story at full blast yet ABS-CBN continues to give out little more than succinct official statements.
Whether or not it was right for them to call for a news blackout, they better recognize that this should set a precedent and not simply be a case of ABS-CBN trying to cover their own ass.
philippine seo on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 1:09 pm
Okay. a news blackout which is not really a news blackout.
A not so clear ransom.
What’s next?
The problem with Mindanao is not about terrorists or extremists or even leftists.
The problem with Mindanao is the kind of Government which holds it and is continually resisting.
I guess thats’ just the bottom of it all.
Makes one answer why the government wants to justify its immediate refusal to heed the black out.
Makes one answer why the government continues to fail to achieve peace in Mindanao.
Makes one answer why even its own people are not safe in Mindanao.
So there/
UP n student on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 1:10 pm
Kidnap insurance does not insure one against being kidnapped but to purchase serves in case one gets kidnapped. If her employer had bought a policy (and had included Drilon among those covered) then “benefits” to Drilon should include loss of income while one is held hostage and medical/psychiatric care after one has been freed. If the employer had bought the feature, then all or most of ransom payments get reimbursed (whether it is paid by the employer or by the kidnap-victim’s family).
Click here for one of the definitions:
http://www.miller-insurance.com/Specialist_areas/Programmes_and_facilities–04Kidnap_and_ransom.aspx
lurker on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 1:44 pm
Blaming the government again, huh. Every single detail so long as the government would be in the picture, people really force to point a finger. Was it the government channel that first reported the story on Monday night? I didn’t know about that as I failed to catch up with late news that time. Anyways, this embargo and the subsequent news reports about this incident are all part of history already. ABS-CBN thought it could downplay the incident but it did not realize that media people are well connected even if they differ most of the time. So no matter what hiding they do, news will always come out, truth will always come out as they say.
They thing is, while efforts are underway to rescue Ces and her crew, news has it that some ABS-CBN personalities have direct contact with the ASG. A former governor in Mincadao said this was a bad idea. So if I were ABS-CBN, I’d listen to the unsolicited advice of the folks in Sulu. They know better. The Lopezes’ money will not do Ces any good.
I hope Ces and her crew return home safely, with their complete set of body parts still intact.
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 2:23 pm
Dean,
With that distinction between an ordinary kidnapping and a terrorist kidnapping, I guess keeping the media noise level to a minimum could have thwarted the desired political mileage better than allowing full coverage in all forms. After all, widespread fear is the ultimate motivation of any genuine terrorist.
I also view this kidnapping in a perspective similar to yours and not via the peephole anti-media advocates want to look at it through.
As you noted, dhimmis seem to have given up on protecting its own and instead remain within personal comfort zones. With a huge number of OFWs working under towelheads, I can understand that. What makes me unsettled is when officers like Esperon (now a Datu) and Dolorfino are tasked with protecting every citizen of any creed especially in areas such as in the south actually bungle their jobs at the expense and lives of their own men.
I may be tolerant of dhimmis but not of quislings.
leytenian on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 2:34 pm
The kidnapping and detention of hostage for mainly financial reasons is usually the responsibility of the kidnapped victims company or the family of the kidnapped victim, depending on circumtances.
Embargo or a news blackout may be the best strategy for the insuring company while negotiation of ransom is in process. Too much publicity may likely result that the victim will suffer violent, disorienting and dehumanizing experience. ( i hope not)
the truth about kidnapping is that paying ransom will only result in more kidnappings in the future. ( i’m not being cold , harsh as it may sound or being mean)…
What do you think our government should do to prevent more kidnappings from happening in the future?
Philippine SEO has a good point. what’s the very bottom of this. It’s not about blaming. It’s about, who has the ultimate responsibility for our safety?
leytenian on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 2:43 pm
This is very disturbing. Let’s hope and pray that Ces and the others will be returned home safely.
DJB Rizalist on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 3:33 pm
MLQ3,
I cannot imagine anything more foolish and silly than “kidnap insurance” because it contemplates paying ransom. Those suggesting it seriously ought to have their heads examined. I mean, it’s like saying we ought to put up a public fund for drug addicts to get fund their daily score from.
On the other hand, the news blackout idea ought to be carried out to its logical conclusion, which is the policy Britain had for years of denying the IRA access to media. If I remember right, the BBC never allowed the airing of the voices of the IRA’s leaders, preferring to have their own broadcasters read excerpts from statements by them. (Maybe someone can recall the most famous of the Irish leaders whose voice was not allowed to be aired at all until a real peace deal was done.)
My rationale here is that the ransom is only the secondary objective. The primary objective is really propaganda.
I must congratulate ABSCBN actually for declaring that it will NOT pay ransom to the terrorists. They won’t give into extortion and blackmail that is the essence of kidnapping.
This is very unlike your own newspaper, whose modus operandi IS political extortion and blackmail via journalistic innuendo and tabloid journalism.
That is why ABSCBN News is an institution, while PDI is just an ideological mass organization masquerading as a newspaper, with the Tulfo brothers and a few on national and regional desks being their own lil Abu Sayyaf Groups of ink-flinging terrorists.
Dominique on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 3:59 pm
Scanning through the comments, I think you all take it for granted that Ces Drilon will make it out of this adventure alive (and with a scoop, to boot.)
Has anyone considered what would happen otherwise?
grd on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:03 pm
djb, is that true re pdi?
abs-cbn wont pay the ransom only “board and lodging”.
ransom demand is now 20 million.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:03 pm
Today’s INQUIRER editorial is so full of shit. New S.O.P. Do any of you guys believe this?
“Embargo or a news blackout may be the best strategy for the insuring company while negotiation of ransom is in proces”
Leytenian, this is the media we’re talking about. They acted like a corporation, obviously you’ve noticed, and it wasn’t just ABS but all of them, including their rivals. How the hell can we trust media now?
micketymoc on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:10 pm
I guess that the hostility to Ces Drilon on this thread stems from her penchant for making herself part of the story, as she did at the Manila Pen.
You might say that this kidnapping is just Ces Drilon taking this tendency to an absurd extreme.
cvj on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:14 pm
Dom (at 3:59 pm), i think Manolo shares your concern when he said above:
That’s also been on my mind but i’m on a self-embargo.
stuart-santiago on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:32 pm
self-embargo
sounds good. me too.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 4:49 pm
CVJ, stuart, you’ll make it as Filipino journalist. They won’t kill Ces. They don’t have any agenda deeper than money.
aky on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 5:36 pm
i saw a news headline today, it said that ces was kidnapped by JI members, why is that so? does the JI want to threat the journalists? I understand that there are many factors involved in a single (in their case multiple)abduction, if the JI really did that, what could good would it do to them?
The Ca t on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:03 pm
ABS CBN may not pay the ransom but would Ces Drilon’s family just wait for her to get killed in the line of duty?
It is easy to say that they won’t pay, anyway who will know if they “extend” a loan to pay the ransom?
Just like the ransom payment which is reported to be 10 million, then 20 million. Meron ng mark-up para sa nasa gitna. tssk tsssk.
The Ca t on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:15 pm
This type of insurance is not for all employees in the same manner that corporations get insurance only for their officers and directors who may be at risk of being sued because of their decisions.
MY consultant-friend is not a journalist but because he frequents places such as Mindanao, Pakistan and Afghanistan, he is covered by kidnap-ransom insurance.
Because of this insurance, he is required to follow the instructions to reduce the risks of being kidnapped, otherwise, the policy will not be honored.
One of these precautions is informing the authorities of his whereabout and securing escorts whereever he goes.
I think this safety precaution was ignored by Ces and company.
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:27 pm
“I guess that the hostility to Ces Drilon on this thread stems from her penchant for making herself part of the story, as she did at the Manila Pen.”
Let me make this clear. There is no hostility on my side for this person. I am reacting to the Philippine media’s arbitrary changing of SOP when a prominent member of their CLUB has been kidnapped. Many people have been kidnapped before, including small children.
Why can’t we stop talking about personalities? Not everyone is family or friends with Ces. I’ve never met her. These people talk a good game about the bigger picture when it’s not one of their own but then one of their own is put in harm’s way and everything changes. Can anyone explain how in the freest media in Asia an embargo was actually accomplished for three days? Too unprofessional. I believe this is the effect of “their” ousting of Erap. We’re witnessing a media with practitioners that have bloated egos and a sense of purpose that go beyond their “expertise.”
DJB Rizalist on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:33 pm
DOM,
I do not assume she will come out alive with a scoop. I take absolutely no pleasure in contemplating the alternative outcome. But I think the twisted logic being displayed by many in our Mass Media and among the bloggers are fair game for criticism and deconstruction. She’s a victim here and I seriously doubt that if she does come out alive, that she will treat this like her Manila Penn experience.
ABSCBN carried features on those Euro-journalists (German, French, Danish) and Filipino journalists who’ve been kidnapped before, who all paid such rich ransoms that the dollar exchange rate was markedly different in Mindanao for a while during that heyday of Commander Robot and company. And we must not forget Arlyn dela Cruz and her BF, Kadaffy Janjalani the Boy-faced Beheader.
I disagree that this is all about money. It’s mainly about propaganda. Just like the CPP NPA, JI/ASG/MILF/MNLF need that even more than money. The target of the propaganda is not the Filipinos but the hearts and minds of Muslims that the terrorists must continue to impress with their continuing power and relevance.
The timing, coming as it does on Independence Week clearly points to their dastardly objective: to make a strong political statement, with her as the exclamation mark.
It’s very disturbing also in this respect: the message is that no one is safe from these terrorists, no matter how famous or well known you are. They’ll take “negotiators” like General Dolorfino (who should be court-martialled not rewarded with the command of the Marines), as well as journalists covering press conferences. Same with Rodolfo Garcia and Jess Dureza, who I hold mainly responsible for “peace process” that has produced anything but.
The cruel fact remains: Paying ransom only sets up the next kidnapping. Maybe a bill for expenses and blame for whatever terrible outcome ensues ought to be sent to them and to PIME and Catholic Church for ransoming Fr. Bossi last year. It must have been huge, because these beasts took a year to spend it all. Then I guess they spotted Ces.
cvj on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:38 pm
Brian, i understand that you’re criticizing a double standard, which i think is valid, but are you saying that in principle, you’re also against the idea of a media embargo? I’m asking because even in other countries with a free press, such a practice is not unheard of. The high profile example would be the British press which did not publicize Prince Harry’s tour of duty in Afghanistan.
DJB Rizalist on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:43 pm
The PDI editorial reeks with insincerity when it suggests a total embargo. Sensational scoops are their be-all and end-all (remember the ZTE non-witness they libeled recently?). As with all broad-tabloids, it’s like a heroin addict claiming she will never shoot up again. Seems to me they really hate the idea that NBN scooped the main pooper-scoopers of PHilippine society.
Let’s take bets on how long it takes them to once more feed the Scoop Monkey on their back, no matter who is hurt. Bet they don’t make it to the weekend!
stuart-santiago on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 7:21 pm
i have many questions too, principally for anc’s maria ressa, but since anc is, understandably, unusually tightlipped, i’d rather give her the benefit of the doubt, praying that she knows what she’s doing this time, anything to see ces and her team safely home.
DJB Rizalist on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 8:22 pm
hvrds: “There is no basic fundamental model that one can use to solve these seemingly endless events that seem to repeat themselves.”
How about “Justice” or “the Rule of Law”?
Ah, but I guess you believe these are suspended because a century ago the Americans “wiped out every living thing there.”
Cute, if a bit hyperbolic, but evidently they did not “wipe out” the centuries of slave-raiding slave-trading, kidnapping and piratical ways of the Maguindanao Confederacy that forced all the Visayas and Luzon into the arms of the Spanish and Catholic Church, whose fortifications and watch towers dot the coastlines.
But I don’t mind admitting I would like such practices to be wiped out, along with the vanishingly small numbers of their fanatical practitioners.
cvj on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 8:35 pm
Interesting separation of categories you’ve made i.e. between ‘Filipinos’ and ‘Muslims’. Don’t these categories overlap? Or have you bought into the idea of an independent Bangsamoro?
UP n student on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:00 pm
Just minor detail…. it does not look like it was some random thing and “… they spotted Ces”. It appears that Ces was lured into a trap and 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.â€
grd on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:14 pm
too quick to pounce on djb’s statement. as if muslims exist only in the phils. think again… think global.
leytenian on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:15 pm
In terms of risk and prevention, insurance will help with ransom but will not guarantee full safety. It wil also not guarantee payment if insurance policy was not followed accordingly.
The last sentence of by The Cat, “I think this safety precaution was ignored by Ces and company.”
Might be the reason why insurance or insuring company will not pay.
UP n student on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 9:39 pm
leytenian: that’s assuming Ces employer has K&R policy and the policy had covered Ces. [k&R - kidnap and ransom]
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:00 pm
“Prince Harry’s tour of duty in Afghanistan.”
That’s why CVJ, I said Ces Drilon is our new Queen and the media is her majesty’s reporters.
The embargo. I think it is the absolute in unethical behavior that it took a fellow journalist and a famous one at that for the media to reconsider their SOP. Don’t you think two innocent kidnapped kids would have been a more apropos turning point?
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:03 pm
“The PDI editorial reeks with insincerity when it suggests a total embargo. Sensational scoops are their be-all and end-all (remember the ZTE non-witness they libeled recently?)”
It’s not just this, but more to the point: lawsuits. They said, case to case basis. Imagine on the case they chose to report early the victim died. How can they defend themselves. In fact, in light of this recent change in SOP, former kidnap victims who have not been given due consideration by the papers and other media should sue these people for billions. It’s not as if recent events have been especially catastrophic. What made them change their minds?
BrianB on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:04 pm
This change of S.O.P., and I’m addressing this to Manolo and other journalists, is insupportable and unsustainable. You simply cannot do it.
DJB Rizalist on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:34 pm
cvj,
GRD has it right: what is going on in MIndanao is not about Bud Dajo or Bud Bagsak anymore, but part of a global jihad led by Al Qaeda and its imitators. I am fairly certain that mass murderers like the Bali Bomber Dulmatin and his good friend Zulkifli Abdhir aren’t in Mindanao just to enjoy the local, uhmm, flora and fauna. WRT ABSCBN, it is entirely possible that they’ve a got a hard-on to do Maria Ressa in, since her journalistic career has been spent exposing the seamy underbelly of the terrorist networks in Indonesia, Malaysia and the rest of Southeast Asia. Since those countries certainly don’t want these homicidal maniacs running around in their backyard, it suits them just fine to be mediating “peace talks” that can only encourage the bombers and beheaders to stick around here and spin ancient yarns about the past glories of the Bangsamoro, i.e., the long centuries of their brutal rule that made the Spanish Taliban look so attractive to the women and children of this archipelago that they actually converted. For which act of historical self-defense, Chief Justice Puno and the Supreme Court has designated only non-Catholicized ethnic groups as “indigenous peoples of the Philippines” who theoretically own one third of the archipelago. According to those geniuses, Tagalogs, Pampangos, Ilocanos, and all Visayans and all Catholicized indios are not really indigenous Filipinos–only those who “successfully resisted” Spanish rule, like the slave traders and pirates of the Maguindanao Confederacy. (Look up the decision on IPRA, look at the list of indigenous peoples).
Our problems are definitely mental.
UP n student on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:51 pm
Wouldn’t you hate to be the other two crew-members?
The Equalizer on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:55 pm
Terry Anderson, former Associated Press Beirut bureau chief, who was held hostage for nearly seven years in Lebanon, has said: “Always, constantly, constantly, every minute, weigh the benefits against the risks. And as soon as you come to the point where you feel uncomfortable with that equation, get out, go, leave it. It’s not worth it. There is no story worth getting killed for.”
Let’s pray for the safety and immediate release of Ces Drilon and her companions.
[splice] on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 10:57 pm
Now this on Inquirer:
Driver claims military agent, not Abus seized Drilon team
Here’s the link:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080612-142325/Driver-claims-military-agent-not-Abus-seized-Drilon-team
This whole debate thing going around here might need some tweaking..
cvj on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:31 pm
brian, how can an embargo be ‘unethical’ if it helps safeguard the kidnap victims’ life? granted she’s not royalty (unlike Prince Harry), i can’t fathom your begrudging Drilon this precautionary measure. even if you believe (contra-DJB) that it’s all about the money and that this will end well, i think it’s prudent not to take any chances.
grd, the categories ‘Filipinos’ and ‘Muslims’ are not mutually exclusive because there are, after all, Filipinos who are Muslims. DJB’s sentence construction betrays his ‘Clash of Civilizations’ frame where the Muslims are, by definition, on the opposing side.
supremo on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:46 pm
‘GUANGZHOU, May 12, 2004 (SinoCast via COMTEX) — The China Mainland’s first Kidnapping insurance has emerged in Guangzhou recently, which was presented by AIU Insurance Company (AIU). The company is going to take the lead in promoting the insurance in the Pearl River Delta.
China Insurance Regulatory Commission has ratified AIU to promote the insurance, but the business is limited in Guangzhouand Foshan city in Guangdong province.’
d0d0ng on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 11:58 pm
DJB on, “I cannot imagine anything more foolish and silly than “kidnap insurance†because it contemplates paying ransom. Those suggesting it seriously ought to have their heads examined.”
It is just sensible business practice and the final co-insurer is Lloyds of London. Consider the MNCs and the foreign expats operating in Mindanao (such as Dole to provide bananas and other produce globally). US military and foreign policy will not negotiate with terrorist. True. To protect US MNCs interest, US military base known as CSL in US Congress was established in Western Mindanao. However, the priority is always the rescue of kidnap victims. Hence, the kidnap insurance to provide for the ransom money initially. Once rescued, the military can enforce its policy on the perpetrators.
So, the no-negotiation with terrorist is usually a government position. But private companies are given time and leeway to secure the kidnap victim alive for fees. Hence, you will hear of negotiators.
ABSCBN can certainly afford one.
BrianB on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 12:09 am
CVJ,
It’s unethical because it happened with her and not earlier and with other people. The rationale hasn’t changed has it? Safety of victims? It shows just how much other people are worth to journalists, which is less than the value of a story. But a fellow journalist’s life, especially a dear one, is more.
d0d0ng on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 12:26 am
mlq3 on, “i think muslim mindanao has gotten heaps of attention -it’s just, the wrong kind, they bet on the warlords and an ex-mnlf faction and they haven’t delivered. just as ramos bet on misuari. and the peace process was not given the priority attention it required because there’s the camp of the hawks in the cabinet.”
The usual quick clannish (bandaid) solution used by Philippine government empowering a family to political office and hopefully control the region as another fiefdom. It never truly address the problems of Muslim populace. So, terrorism as act of desperation continues.
d0d0ng on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 12:42 am
BrianB on, “It’s unethical because it happened with her and not earlier and with other people.”
Ethics is a formality and can easily dispense when faced with life threat. In addition, individuals are not equal. Each is valued according to ones contribution. To put an analogy, a company pays more salary and benefits to its key officers that to its common workers.
In real world, a judge can price 20,000 pesos to indemnify a common dead victim but not the high profiled personalities.
Ces is not an ordinary person.
The Ca t on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 12:47 am
as of press time, one of the crew was released in exchange for the payment of 2 million…not as ransom but as board and lodging.
and the money came from “negotiators”.
Whatever you may call it, it is still ransom for me.
nakatawad. 4 captors for 10 million is 2.5 million each.
or baka naman 2 million para sa tatlo, the 2 crew members and the professor guide which makes it a total of 6 million. 4 million siguro para kay ces.
just thinking and counting.
d0d0ng on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 12:55 am
BrianB on, “It’s not as if recent events have been especially catastrophic. What made them change their minds?”
The world operate on who has greater impact. Two unknown kids you mentioned as samples hardly printed in length at newspapers. Besides kidnapper choses high valued target.
d0d0ng on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 1:01 am
The Cat on, “as of press time, one of the crew was released in exchange for the payment of 2 million…not as ransom but as board and lodging.”
It is just euphemism. Supporting ransom is bad company image and publicity. Board and lodging is definitely an upgrade as use of actual services.
Funny really.
mlq3 on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 1:09 am
was chided by a colleague this evening who works at a news desk.
it seems that embargos are far more common than we think, in terms of kidnapping stories. unless the kidnapping takes place in broad daylight, there have been quite a few cases where media won’t report it immediately. one case was apparently that of a kid whose kidnapping was reported only two days after the event.
a review of the various papers and seeing how much later reports of kidnappings are from the actual kidnapping date, can verify this colleague’s assertion or not.
also, according to my colleague, this was a case where one media outfit appealed to others, which was unusual, but the response of other outfits was precisely because this isn’t something new.
but it was case-to-case judgment call; what could possibly happen now is for it to become a rule of thumb.
and the latest report is that drilon’s driver was released and says she was abducted by a military agent.
BrianB on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 1:55 am
Has SOP changed or not? Will it be limited to kidnapping? What about terrorist threats like bombs. Will media cooperate with military and police authority? If you make a judgment call and situation goes awry, wouldn’t you be liable?
leytenian on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 5:32 am
UP N Student,
Not sure what benefits ABS-CBN has for its employees. Yes I was assuming that CES is covered.
Typical Kidnap/Ransom and Extortion Insurance coverage highlights include:
Broad coverage for extortion threats against the company’s merchandise, property, proprietary information, computer systems or its employees
Broad expense coverage for hijackings, wrongful detentions or political threats
Reimbursement for ransom or extortion payments
Broad expense coverage such as:
Access to a public relations firm Medical, cosmetic, psychiatric, and dental services
Rest and rehabilitation costs
Reward payments to informants
Salaries of employees and temporary replacement employees
Accidental death or dismemberment coverage
Optional emergency political repatriation expense coverage
Access to the crisis management
Actual coverage is subject to the language of the policies as issued.
leytenian on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 5:41 am
Annual totals for kidnappings grew more than 100 percent from 1995 (830 kidnappings worldwide) to 1999 (1,728). The combination of political unrest, poverty and lawlessness are the main reasons that kidnappings have increased.
d0d0ng on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 6:59 am
Leytenian on, “The combination of political unrest, poverty and lawlessness are the main reasons that kidnappings have increased.”
That is the picture of Philippines – increasing political unrest, deepening poverty and widespread lawlessness.
Where the global price of oil and rice have wiped out the average family disposable income, there is little left than to resort to desperate measures – anarchy is real.
KG on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 8:26 am
“KG,
Was that the GMA takeover incident led by Col. Rey Cabauatan? I have inside info on that one, it’s a fake.
”
Tongue,
I think they were all fake,but that is only me.The incident was led by Canlas btw, and I might have my facts mixed up.and those court martials were fast backed then,lahat pala naresolve agad in less than one year so it was not only the gma incident,pati manila hotel,black sat, etc. yun nga ang tinatanong ni erpat bat ngayon they are prolonging the agony eh sya wala pang isang taon.You know what they say about hindsight.
Ngayon,
pasintabi na I am glad the others were released from campaign funds of the local executive.
If you check the sec, I can bet you will notice that on election years,company’s expenses get bloated,dahil ang mga kompanya di lang naman isang candidato ang biniigyan,I am talking only of presidential elections.ngayon tuloy I am thinking that campaign donations of conglomerates goes to local elections as well.
This may be a viscious cycle alangan sabihin ko na itigil nyo na ang ransom para tumigil ang viscious cylce.
why, did the death penalty stop the viscious cycle of the nature of the beast in man?
Rob' Ramos on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 2:13 pm
Military Agent as abductor? Hmmm… we have a new twist to this issue, it seems. Or maybe not a new twist. I’m hitting my head on a wall for not thinking about THIS scenario sooner.
The Ca t on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 2:42 pm
They can call it by any name but who are they fooling, the kidnappers ? No way. Except for the leader or leaders, this is a bunch of unschooled young people who will see this as payment in exchange of the freedom of the victims.
I remember one statement of the wife of the missionary who was abducted together with the husband at
Dos Palmas. The young “rebels” were mostly talking of what to buy, what to eat when they get the money, to go abroad.
Funny indeed, the giver hands the money as payment for “Forced board and lodging” and the receiver
gets the money as part of the RANSOM.
Whether to pay or not to pay is not a question then.
Bencard on Fri, 13th Jun 2008 11:27 pm
ah, now terrorist kidnappers are into ‘bed & breakfast’ business. maybe they should name their jungle hideout as ‘hotel abu sayyaf’ – a resort with tight armed security and a sumptuous daily menu of nfa rice and dilis, at basement-bargain prices (only 100 thousand pesos for a few days, discounted from 20 or 10 million).
military agents as abductors? why do i have a feeling this has become a standard speculation? then again, this is the philippines. anything goes.
d0d0ng on Sat, 14th Jun 2008 6:24 am
The Ca t on, “Whether to pay or not to pay is not a question then.”
Yes. To certain extent, it is encourage to tilt the balance in favor of the kidnap victims.
Bencard on, “military agents as abductors? why do i have a feeling this has become a standard speculation?”
I hope you are right. My relatives are in the military. I am proud of few but equally despised others. One is particularly involved in kidnap for ransom and bank robbery, was able to evade both NBI and the military because one of my uncle was in the intelligence unit. Blood is thicker than water.
The Ca t on Sat, 14th Jun 2008 7:26 pm
bogart on Sun, 15th Jun 2008 1:27 pm
she’s looking for trouble and “scoop”.. right? well.. she definitely found what she’s looking for. problem is, this group is not like the military who has the moral values not to “really hurt” them. masyadong matapang eh..tignan na lang natin ngayon. too bad everybody who’s not thinking enough is still blaming the government. but for me..no body else is to blame but ces, her crew, and their vanity for their work. they forgot that there’s no such thing as “journalist’s immunities” with criminals and terrorists.
bong on Fri, 20th Jun 2008 8:38 am
ah, there you have it ; when you violate the basic principle of journalism in serving your self interest there goes your credilibility ; these people are quick to fault the government at the same time. C’ mon be fair and truthful and its thats should be the NEWS is all about