Secretary Raul Gonzales and The Abduction of Ces Drilon
June 11th, 2008 by Ding G. GageloniaThis writer would much rather not comment on the steady stream of stories tangent to the incident four days since Ces Drilon, her two-man news crew and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo went missing in the no man’s land that is Mt. Tumatangis and its environs in the Patikul-Indanan corridor of Sulu.
But as is his wont, with better judgment absent, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales has opened his mouth about the abduction of Drilon and company to say (assuming the reports are quoting him accurately) that a leader of the Abu Sayyaf, one Commander Radullon Sahiron, had expressed his interest to surrender through a “negotiation letter” Gonzales supposedly got “three weeks ago” and then “followed up” by an “unnamed emissary.”
Gonzales says Sahiron, whose letter he “had authenticated” sought “cash payment for their firearms, some form of amnesty, livelihood assistance and immunity,” among others in exchange for his and his followers’ surrender.
The DOJ chief claims informed President Arroyo about Sahiron’s letter and was advised to exercise caution in dealing with a terrorist group. Gonzales adds he is “willing to give the Abu Sayyaf leader a safe conduct pass” if Sahiron would agree to “a face-to-face meeting.” .
Gonzalez says, though, his disclosure of Sahiron’s intent to surrender “has nothing to do with the kidnapping of Ces Drilon and her companions.”
We would like to take the cabinet member’s word for it, but for any high ranking official to make such a ‘revelation’ at this sensitive time seems suspect, at the very least.
The linkage being made, although Gonzales is quick to deny it, tips the government’s hand and could make people ask if Manila knows more about the circumstances of Drilon’s abduction than it is officially saying.
Shouldn’t ‘less talk, less mistake’ be the operative rule here as back channeling communications and other efforts continue to secure the safe release of the four captives?
