Palace mum on reported ransom to Angelo’s kidnappers

Malacañang invoked yesterday the government’s "news blackout" policy on the hostage crisis in the wake of reports detailing the alleged payment of a $6-million ransom to Iraqi militants for the release of Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz.

The Land Bank of the Philippines belied the reports, which claimed the bank released $1 million while the Malaysian government allegedly shelled out $5 million.

The Malaysian embassy in Manila had no comment on the issue, while Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilberto Asuque refused to discuss matters related to the hostage situation in Iraq.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye raised President Arroyo’s request of a news blackout on the hostage crisis after reports came out on the ransom payment allegedly facilitated by Malaysia.

When journalists insisted the Palace owed the public an explanation on the alleged ransom payment, Bunye said he was not the designated government official to comment on the matter.

"The spokesperson will deal with that in due time," he said, naming Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert as the "designated spokesperson on the Iraq issue."

Reports of a ransom payment came after Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who arrived in Manila last Friday to attend a conference, paid a courtesy call on Mrs. Arroyo at the Palace.

Malaysia has, in the past, paid ransom for the release of its nationals who were kidnapped from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan by Abu Sayyaf bandits in April 2000.

The Malaysian official was accompanied to the Palace last Friday by Albert, one of the members of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security handling the hostage crisis. The COCIS is chaired by Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo and Bunye is one of its members.

Since Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas had mistakenly announced that De la Cruz was freed by his Iraqi abductors earlier this month, the Palace has left official announcements to Albert. — With Marvin Sy, Pia Lee-Brago