Journalists favorite Abu targets

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have yet to determine the real circumstances behind the disappearance in strife-torn Sulu of noted TV broadcaster Ces Oreña-Drilon and her companions, but the incident calls to mind the deception played years back by Abu Sayyaf bandits on some journalists eager for exclusive interviews.

While generally known for their capacity to detect deception or even danger, a handful of journalists in 1996 failed to see through the intention of Abu Sayyaf “sources” and ended up captives of the bandits in their jungle stronghold in Sumisip, Basilan.

This reporter – then working for the defunct The Manila Chronicle – happened to be in the group of journalists held for a week in the jungle by the Abu Sayyaf group, then under its founding chieftain Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani.

Held with this reporter were Arlene de la Cruz, formerly with ABC-CBN who had arranged the interview, the late Alvin Tarroza of The STAR, photojournalist Willy Perez, and cameraman Rudy Yagumyum.

The bandits had just taken hostage seven private surveyors.

The coverage was supposed to be an overnight visit with a rare interview with Janjalani.

An Abu Sayyaf member escorted the media men to the rebel camp on a night cruise on a motorized boat.

On reaching land, the group negotiated a rough trail that led to a stilted hut in what appeared to be the middle of a jungle.

But instead of being allowed to do interviews as earlier agreed upon, the journalists were told to prepare for “background investigation” under heavy guard. That’s when the journalists began to worry. Sounds of distant gunfire didn’t help.

After three days, six men – some very young and carrying firearms and ammunitions – showed up outside the journalists’ hut. They turned out – to our surprise – to be hostages themselves and were only made to appear like their armed captors.

The journalists’ agony ended a week later when armed followers of Janjalani escorted them out of the jungle.

The Abu Sayyaf leader never showed himself again. He was killed in an encounter with government forces in December 1998.

The incident was repeated in 2000 when actor Robin Padilla and now Vice President Noli de Castro, along with several newsmen, were held against their will also in Sumisip.

Padilla, an Islam convert, was supposed to negotiate the release of school children held captive with several teachers and a Catholic priest. The group was released in exchange for 200 sacks of rice.