Indanan mayor under tactical interrogation

MANILA, Philippines – Police have invited Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider to Camp Crame to shed light on the kidnapping of ABS-CBN senior anchorwoman Ces Drilon and three others.

The Isnaji father and son acted as emissaries in the negotiation for the release of the hostages. Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo were released before midnight on Tuesday after 10 days in captivity, while a fourth hostage – assistant cameraman Angelo Valderama – was freed on Thursday last week.

Officials of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said the Isnajis arrived at the CIDG headquarters at around 9 a.m. and were debriefed in the conference room by at least six CIDG officials, who are all lawyers. Journalists were prevented from interviewing the two.

“It’s part of our SOP (standard operating procedure) to debrief individuals who participated in negotiations for the release of kidnap victims. They can help us identify the kidnappers for filing of charges,” CIDG legal officer Virgilio Pablico said. He stressed the Isnajis were not suspects. “They helped in the negotiation,” he pointed out.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno ordered a thorough investigation of an alleged conspiracy angle in the kidnapping.

“I have ordered an investigation on the reports (of conspiracy). I told the police to spare no one in the filing of charges,” Puno said.

Puno said the kidnappers, who were mostly in their teens, are likely to continue their criminal activities if they are left unpunished. He declined to reveal the identities of the abductors.

Earlier, the DILG approved a P500,000 reward for the arrest of each of the two identified captors of Drilon – Sulayman Patta and a certain Walid.

The identities of the other suspects are subject to verification by the police and the military.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said Isnaji is not a suspect but is a “resource person” in the investigation.

CIDG head Chief Superintendent Raul Castañeda said the Isnajis are expected to provide a “complete picture” of the kidnapping, including speculations that a P15-million ransom was paid.

The PNP chief said they will also investigate Juamil Biyaw, an associate of Dinampo and a former Moro National Liberation Front commander, who was also a guide of Drilon.

Razon said they want Biyaw to explain why the Abu Sayyaf did not take him.

Biyaw said earlier he decided to hide after the kidnapping for fear of his life.

“Our guide was betrayed,” Drilon was quoted to have said prior to her flight to Manila.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez also wants the Isnajis investigated.

“They should focus on the motives of the two,” Gonzalez said.