This just in… the abductors of Ces Drilon and two others have just extended “indefinitely” the deadline for the payment of the P15M ransom. Jolo broadcaster Zeny Masong reports the kidnappers gave in to the repeated appeals of negotiators.
But Masong adds,”the negotiators have now revealed the ultimatum earlier given to them included a threat that the hostages “would be beheaded” by 2:00 pm if the ransom was not paid.
Now, that threat itself “has apparently been withdrawn.”
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I’m just wondering…
Is Filipino Voices a news feed aggregator? Or are we an ISSUES blog? Is blow-by-blow reporting our core mission? Or are we an analysis team?
Just wondering and introducing a bit of food for thought here… ;)
@benign0, definitely not aggregator..
However, accordingly, the subtitle does say it,
Politics, News, and Social Commentary.
In any case, we’re barely three months old, our cohesiveness in terms of a unified goal or mission, or even vision may take time. Let’s see where this goes.
And yes, it’s food for thought, no need to be shy about floating ideas around here, that’s the point of having a discussion in the first place.
In any case, I am deeply interested in the news coming out from Ding’s vantage point.
@Ding, I am still scratching my head as to what they mean by indefinite deadline.
What do they expect to do, if no one pays the ransom?
And, I know this may not be a popular opinion, but ransom is not the answer.
Nick,
The episode is really a poser, as ransom payment feeds on itself and we succumb to the criminal agenda.
The sooner this abduction is resolved by whatever route, hopefully with the hostages safely extracted from the claws of the malevolent ASG, the sooner we can all move forward.
My thoughts also go to out soldiers who may have to do battle if the final option is taken.
I go here to read issues not news as I can get that elsewhere
Ma’am Noemi,
There is no intent to turn FV into a news provider. Far from it.
But we need to see clearly through smoke and mirrors. So when there are myriad forces ‘operating’ behind the scenes and projecting propaganda in the mainstream press packaged as news, then we need to try to give the discourse and commentary sound journalistic underpinnings rather than just dish out shot-from-hip commentary.
ah so. there has been such, in this case? news management, in the form of news denial (the embargo) and spin control (your statement above)?
Yes and no. The story does not really end with the presented resolution of the abduction. An example, the Abu Sayyaf had long been declared ‘ready for cremation’ by authorities and yet they continue to rule the jungles of Sulu.
Here, and most everywhere, spinmeisters abound.