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Manila/Mindanao: A group of Islamist militants released a driver, his assistant, and a peace advocate, but continued holding three TV journalists on Sulu island in the southern Philippines, sources said yesterday.
"We are looking for the driver and the owner of the vehicle that brought Ces Drilon, TV journalist, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, cameramen, of ABS-CBN, and Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo to Maimbung, to interview a leader of the Abu Sayyaf," said Maimbung mayor Najib Maldisa.
"They were freed at 10 on Monday morning, after the group had kidnapped the journalists and Professor Dinampo," said Maldisa.
The driver and the dispatcher, whose names were not released, carried with them Abu Sayyaf's ransom demand of 10 million pesos (Dh909,090) for the release of the kidnap-victims, Radyo Bomb said.
The Abu Sayyaf explained that the ransom demand was for the "billeting fee" of the kidnap-victims.
Demand
The group's original demand was 20 million pesos (Dh1.8 million), Radyo Bombo radio said. It did not give more details.
Meanwhile, the group released Professor Dinampo late on Tuesday night, the Philippine Council for Islam and democracy told the Standard.
Dinampo carried a handwritten note from Drilon. But the content of her letter and to whom it was addressed were not released, said Milhabar Amilansa, the Presidential Assistant for Sulu. Reacting to the ransom demand, Anthony Golez, Deputy Spokesman of President Gloria Arroyo, said, "We will keep our no-ransom policy. We have ordered the Phil National Police to investigate and run after the kidnappers."
Dinampo had offered Drilon access to the hideout of Jemaah Islamiyah in Maimbuing. He had arranged an interview with Umar Patek, a rebel leader, a report said.
Another report said that Drilon was scheduled to interview Radulan Sahiron, an Abu Sayyaf bomb expert.
- With additional inputs by Ed General and Rafael Juan
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