Legarda dares military to prove ransom payment

Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda dared yesterday the military to identify its source and prove charges that she and her husband Antonio Leviste paid P2 million for the release of broadcast journalist Arlyn de la Cruz.

Legarda, in denying the allegations, also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines officially belied the existence of any report confirming that ransom amounting to P2 million or in any amount was facilitated by the group led by the senator.

The military denied yesterday its own report, appearing in the military’s confidential operations journal, and obtained by the press on Monday, claiming that ransom was paid by Legarda and her group to the Muslim captors of the television journalist.

"The AFP would like to categorically deny the existence of any report confirming that ransom was facilitated by the group led by Legarda," it said in a statement.

"Senator Legarda, a former distinguished member of the media, is a reserve officer of the Armed Forces having the rank of colonel and would certainly not resort to any action that would besmirch her reputation," the AFP statement also read.

On the other hand, the AFP thanked and congratulated the senator for helping in the release of De la Cruz and other hostages in the past.

In a privilege speech, Legarda mentioned a STAR report quoting military intelligence as saying that Prof. Mashur Jundan delivered the money to De la Cruz’s captors.

Legarda said she was particularly slighted by the title of The STAR report as it directly named her as the one who paid the ransom.

She was supported by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who said the article was damaging to her honor, character and integrity.

"I have secured the unconditional release of (six) military and police officers in the past. In all the releases of Gen. Victor Obillo, Capt. Eduardo Montealto, Sgt. Alipio Lozada, Sgt. Wivino Demol, Maj. Roberto Bernal and Maj. Noel Buan, where my help was sought by their respective families, not a single cent was paid to their custodial forces," Legarda said.

"All of their releases, as it was also in the case of Arlyn de la Cruz, took place safely and expeditiously –borne out of humanitarian considerations, and as a result of my personal appeal to their captors," the senator added. – With reports from Jose Rodel Clapano, Paolo Romero