The news media in Metro Manila has been in a celebratory mood, albeit subdued, after the release from captivity several days ago of respected broadcast journalist Ces Drilon who, to her credit, has profusely thanked all who helped in ending her ordeal at the hands of that kidnap-for-ransom gang in Sulu.
Now on going is the police action against the estimated 50 gang members while government prosecutors hav just opened the legal battlefront against the erstwhile negotiators, now main suspects: the father and son tandem of Indanan town mayor Alvarez Isnaji and Haider ‘Jun’.
Those opening their Saturday morning newspapers and clicking the on-line editions of the main news media outlets are viewing only one front page photo — that of the Isnajis counting the ransom money, all of 5-million, or is it 3, that was handed to them by Ces Drilon. This was the amount cobbled together by Ces’ family, including her uncle, former Finance secretary and ambass ador to the Court of St. James (U.K.), Edgardo Espiritu.
These details surfaced one after the other Friday afternoon and late last night, the last aspect, that of Ces’ family putting together the ransom money, when Mr. Espiritu himself appeared on ABS-CBN’s late eveing carrier newscast Bandila.
And he did so not only to confirm he and his siblings paid the ransom, but to deny the contents of a poison text message smearing Sen. Loren Legarda about how she supposedly orchestrated the sequence in which she and Ces would emerge from the plane upon their arrival in Manila from Zamboanga.
But the more venomous aspect of the SMS message which began circulating at around 10:00-10:30 pm is about how Mr. Espiritu had allegedly told someone over a lunchen that Legarda “entered the picture ( to help in Ces’ release) only after Ces’ family had already paid P5M which went as ransom for the earlier release on June 12 of Drilon’s assistant cameraman, Angelo Valderama.
I will not quote the rest of the poison text here, given that it’s all over blogosphere.
But one particular aspect in the text that also raises eyebrows is the mention of Sen. Ed Angara’s name,”Loren and Ed Angara want Ces to seek and audience with GMA. He and Loren were also the ones who negotiated with (the) kidnappers of Arlene dela Cruz with the same MO (modus operandi).”
It is this concluding part of the text message that runs thick with venom, with the all the dark and malicious implications go with the allegation.
With the day just beginning, no reactions have yet issued from either of the two senators who are sure to bristle over the apparent smear effort against them.
Everyone in the rumor mill that is the Philippines understands unspoken elements in the poison text message.
At its very surface, the SMS apparently targets Legarda because of her standing as one of the more popular presidential wannabees in the 2010 elections and it looks like her high profile presence in the Drilon post-abduction events has made it convenient for black propaganda operators in corridors unseen to have Legarda in their crosshairs.
On the other side of the post abduction fence, the Isnajis are crying out that they are just scapegoats. Mockingly during their inquest last Wednesday night, the young Isnaji declared their innocense and said, “if this is a movie, it’s an interesting movie you are making.”
Lamitan Mayor Isnaji, who has now been suspended, is one of 7 gubernatorial candidates in the ARMM elections this August,the post also being contested by the Lakas Party’s Zaldy Ampatuan whose clan is among the strongest supporters of Pres. Arroyo. The Ampatuans are also known to have played ‘active’ roles in the 2004 presidential elections whose results remain beclouded by charges of fraud.
The lawyer of the Isnajis is Ernesto Francisco, Jr., the same barrister active in recent political tiffs including one or two against the administration. Attorney Francisco, by the way, is one of the electoral lawyers of Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio, and defense attorney to former vice president Tito Guingona (in the now dismissed rebellion case in connection with the Manila Peninsula siege).
Certain to be among the ‘attack points’ of lawyer Francisco in his defense of Mayor Isnaji will be the issue of the alleged aliases of the Drilon abductors and how these pointed to the accused.
Former MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari is reported to have “recognized” the alias of mayor Isnaji when the abduction investigation was in its earliest stages. Everyone, of course, knows the that founding MNLF chairman has a moist eye on recapturing both the helm of the MNLF, and the ARMM (where at one time Isnaji himself sat as officer-in-charge).
It should thus not surp[rise anybody that we’re hearing warnings about a possible backlash in the deep south over the jailing of mayor Isnaji.
The news media will have a lot of leads to follow in the coming days.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Ding,
I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for your running account of the kidnapping of Ces Drilon and her party. It shows that our FV community can produce information.
Sir Abe. it’s a honor to get this feedback from you. I simply subscribe to the principle that specially in our society it’s easy to judge and assume the worst. But even in the extreme, FV can do its bit in developing sound reportage to allow the Filipino Voice, for sober perspective to rise above the din. Salamat po.
I agree with Abe. The value of a blog is enhanced by its ability to switch into ‘Events Mode’ in the middle of a significant news story. Manolo Quezon and DJB are very good in this and i find it useful going back to their live accounts for historical reference.
Ive seen the text, and yes does have the marks of a smear campaign.
But I think she talked too much about herself in her nauseating ANC interview about how she was “The Negotiator” in Ces Drilon’s release.
It came off as too self absorbed and as shameless self promotion.
A good deed can turn ugly when you use it to brag to everyone else. She smeared herself.