Ces' cameraman freed

JOLO- P2-million ransom paid?

One of three ABS-CBN News journalists abducted by the al-Qaeda-linked terror group Abu Sayaff was released in Sulu last night, Indanan Mayor Isnaji Alvarez told The STAR.

ABS-CBN cameraman Angelo Valderama was brought to the home of Alvarez at 7:30 last night.

But ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Ces Drilon and cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion were still in captivity,along with a Mindanao State University professor who acted as their local guide.

Sources said a P2-million ransom was allegedly paid but Alvarez would not confirm this and said the release was done out of goodwill.

Alvarez facilitated the negotiations for the release of Valderama.

"Valderama is in good condition. we fed him and he's resting right now. His release is a gift and a sign of goodwill that the kidnappers are heeding our negotiations. This is just the beginning and we hope to get the rest of the hostages at the soonest possible," Alvarez told The STAR.

Sources in Sulu said Drilon was reportedly handed to another group.

The freed hostage told Alvarez that his two colleagues and the professor remained with the kidnappers and were unharmed.

The Abu Sayaff group were understood to have demanded up to P20 million in ransom.

Amilbahar Amilasan, an aide of President  Arroyo in Jolo, told reporters that Valderama would be taken to a military camp here for debriefing.

"He looked okay, but he would be given a (medical) check-up," Amilasan said.

Alvarez has earlier told reporters he has spoken with Drilon by telephone on Wednesday night.

ABS-CBN said Wednesday in a statement that it would abide by its policy of not paying ransoms, so as not to "embolden kidnap-for-ransom groups to abduct other journalists, putting more lives at risk."

But an official told the AFP that negotiations for the hostages' release have reached a"critical" stage with the terrorists demanding P 20 million.

"We know the hostages are all okay," said the source speaking on condition of anonymity.

The journalists and their guide, Mindanao University professor Octavio Dinampo were supposed to meet a militant leader on Sunday when armed men stopped their utility vehicle in the vicinity of Barangay Kulasi, Maimbung.

Amilasan said influential religious and local leaders have mobilized to convince the Abu Sayaff group to free the captives.

'The appeals of the religious leaders in Sulu for the kidnappers to release unharmed the victims are mounting," Amilasan said.