It was past midnight when Ces’s voice was heard again via speakerphone in the abs-cbn newsroom—the 1st since she was kidnapped.
News editor danny lucas was the 1st newsroom person she talked to after release—and he was ironically, the last before she was kidnapped.
the newsroom came to life as one by one. news staff who had already gone hom after the late night newscast started to trickle back in to listen to Ces and prepare to break the news.
Ces Sounded like she always did—ranting about how she hasnt taken a bath, hasnt eaten and hasnt had a change of clothes.
It was the most beuatiful thing ive seen in a long time. newsroom personnel gatherd around the speakerphone and just welcomed her back. she passed the phone to Jimmy and he too had his share of welwishers. the newsroom scarmbled to break the story, even as another set started to work on making sure Ces got her clothes and other paraphernalia which had been entrusted to Ina and Jay. I was tonr between laughing and crying.
For the newsroom it was the end of one of the most harrowing coverages ever—civering a potentially lfe threatening story involving one of its own.
Im just glad to have my friend back.
In the next few days, you can expect a clearer picture of what really happened—and the true context and onus of this abduction—the coming ARMM ELECTION.
For now, we have these statements from abs-cbn, the families and malacanan. Special mention to Senator Loren Legarda who secure the release.
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE FAMILIES OF CES, JIMMY, AND ANGELO AND ABS CBN June 17, 2008, 11pm
Ces, Jimmy, and Angelo are finally all free. We cannot wait to bring them home to our families and to ABS CBN. We are thankful that our prayers have been answered and our efforts rewarded.
We thank everyone who helped secure the release of Ces, Jimmy, and Angelo. We received a great outpouring of support from people all over the world who care for freedom. Their words of comfort and prayers guided and strengthened us throughout this ordeal.
There are people who gave us timely and valuable advice as we grappled with ways to secure the release of Ces, Jimmy, and Angelo. They wish to remain anonymous, but they know how eternally grateful we are to all of them.
Above all, the release of Ces, Jimmy, and Angelo could not have been possible without the help of Senator Loren Legarda and the cooperation of the people of Sulu and their local government namely Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidullah. We thank them and share their hope for enduring peace in Mindanao.
For their invaluable assistance, we thank Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno; National Police chief Avelino Razon Jr.; officials of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) led by Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina and Senior Supt. Edgardo Iglesia and the PNP Intelligence Group led by Chief Supt. Rolando Anonuevo and Supt. Winnie Quidato; the Marines based in Sulu led Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban.
It is for the people of Sulu and Mindanao and Filipinos worldwide that we at ABS-CBN continue to deliver the news.
TAGALOG
Malaya na sina Ces, Jimmy at Angelo. Sa wakas ay maiuuwi na namin sila sa aming pamilya at sa kapamilya nila sa ABS CBN. Salamat sa Diyos at sinagot niya ang aming mga dasal at binigyang bunga ang aming pagsisikap na sila’y makalaya.
Taos puso kaming nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng tumulong at nanalangin para makalaya sina Ces, Jimmy, at Angelo. Dagsa ang mga dasal at suporta mula sa lahat ng taong nagmamahal sa kalayaan. Ito ang nagbigay sa amin ng lakas ng loob upang harapin ang malaking pagsubok na ito.
May mga taong nagsilbing gabay sa aming paghahanap ng lunas sa krisis na ito. Bagamat ayaw nilang magpapakilala ay habang buhay namin silang kikilalanin at pasasalamatan.
Higit sa lahat, nagpapasalamat kami kay Senator Loren Legarda at sa mga mamamayan at pamahalaang lokal ng Sulu, sa pangunguna nina Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji at Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidullah. Nakikiisa ang ABS CBN sa inyong pangarap tungo sa isang mapayapang Mindanao.
Para sa kanilang tulong, nagpapasalamat kami kina Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno; National Police chief Avelino Razon Jr.; ang liderato ng Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) sa pangunguna ni Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina at Senior Supt. Edgardo Iglesia at ng PNP Intelligence Group sa pangunguna ni Chief Supt. Rolando Anonuevo at Supt. Winnie Quidato; ang mga Marines sa Sulu sa pangunguna ni Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban.
Para sa mga mamamayan ng Sulu, ng Mindanao, at sa lahat ng Pilipino sa buong mundo ang patuloy na paghahatid-balita ng ABS CBN.
TEXT STATEMENT OF SEC. JESS DUREZA
“let’s congratulate the crisis management committee and the local officials for their esteadfast and excellent handling of the impasse involving ces . the safety and welfare of the victims was always the foremost consideration all throughout their ordeal. we are happy for bringing the victims back but our rejoice must not overshadow our untrelenting efforts to bring the perpetrators to the bar of jsutice and face the ful;l force of the law. of course kudos to the pnp led by gen. razon and afp headed by gen. allaga of westmincom.”
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@RG, I join you in this hour of celebration. I can’t help but be happy with you.
As for the statement itself, I think they should just have cut it off without naming names. This was like the statement version of a photo op. (Loren Legarda?, really?)
In any case, I’m anticipating Ces’ first interview, and her return in front of the camera..
ABS-CBN has a golden opportunity to show what it is really made of by NOT conducting an exclusive interview with Ces Drilon. If ABS-CBN conducts the first interview as a panel interview with representatives from the other networks and broadsheets and simulcast over the other networks, I predict a groundswell of goodwill from the public as well as the media community. Does ABS-CBN have the audacity and imagination for this? It could be a masterstroke.
nick. we have to give people din naman credit where itys due. hehehe.
pochero—yes we have the audacity and imagination for that! thats all im gonna say for now and ill let maria fill you in at the right time.
but yes—the onus for exclusivity has been relaxed in this coverage.
And now, we will dive into the issues, much greater than the actual kidnapping itself, but on issues of security in Sulu, military policy, government policy, and our “no ransom policy”.
It may sound ungrateful of me to say such things, as if I’m not happy for the release, but the release has shown us some things, very wrong with our military, and that is the fact that politics trumps all. And because of this, the fight against an insurgency, terrorism, kidnap bandits, is going to be a fight that will not be ending anytime soon.
Are we feeding a resurgent campaign to spread terrorism?
yes—in a way by having the kinds of political leaders that we put in power or allow to take power.
many things that are wrong in this country are all from the foibles of the political establishment