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Manila/Mindanao: Islamist kidnappers released a television cameraman after an amount of 100,000 pesos (Dh8,250) was paid and not 2 million pesos as reported by various sources, a negotiator has said.
"The amount of 100,000 was given to the kidnappers for expenses such as food and the handling and transporting of their captives," said Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji.
Angelo Valderama, the cameraman of ABS CBN, who was kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah members in Talipao town in Sulu island, on Sunday "was brought by an emissary in a major highway in Sulu at 7 on Thursday evening," said Isnaji.
"My son Junjun picked up Valderama from the national highway and brought him to my house at Timbangan Street in Indanao town at 7 in the evening," said Isnaji.
Sign of goodwill
"We fed him and he slept through the night. His release was a sign of goodwill that the kidnappers are responding to our requests. This is just the beginning," Isnaji said.
"The money was sent to the kidnappers earlier," said Isnaji, who added, "I got the money from my personal funds. It was not ransom money. I could not violate the government's policy of non-payment of ransom."
Valderama's photo was taken at the Jolo Airport when he was about to board a small air force plane at 10:30am. Authorities brought him to a military camp in Zamboanga City for medical check up and debriefing. He was scheduled to arrive in Manila today.
On Thursday, the ASG allegedly demanded a 30-million pesos ransom, up from 10 million pesos set on Monday.
Sources said that Isnaji was a negotiator chosen by the ASG to work for the release of two other television crew members.
"We are going to pay money for the safe release of Ces Drilon and Jimmy Valderama," said Isnaji, referring to the TV journalist and cameraman of ABS CBN, who were kidnapped on Sunday with Angelo Valderama and a peace activist, Professor Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State University.
"Ces was crying for help," said Isnaji, adding he was able to talk to her over her mobile phone on Thursday.
"She pleaded for help and for her immediate release," said Isnaji, adding, "I told her that we are doing everything for her immediate and safe release."
Negotiations
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said all avenues of negotiation with the abductors would be tried before the government launches a rescue operation.
"We will let negotiations proceed before we undertake stronger actions," Gonzales said.
Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the terrorists' hostage-taking was like that of "alligators in the water that open their jaws and somebody just walks into them".
The kidnapping of the journalist betrayed the poor security situation in Mindanao, said Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez from South Cotabato.
The television crew were about to interview ASG and JI members in Sulu, with the help of Dinampo.
The ASG and the JI have links with the Al Qaida terror network of Osama Bin Laden.
With inputs from Ed General, Correspondent
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