released kidnapper said they were not hurt by their kidnappers

Miami
June 13, 2008
Story: released kidnapper said they were not hurt by their kidnappers

At around 9:30 pm of June 12, 2008, one of the cameraman being kidnapped in Sulu was finally released.

Angelo Valderama, was brought at the designated waiting area in the town of Talipao, Sulu. He was fetched by the elements of police and brought to the house of Indanan Mayor Alvarez Ismaji, one of the negotiator.

According to Ismaji, Valderama arrived at his house between 10:00 to 11:00 pm right after his release.

In the morning of January 13, around 5:00 am Valderama was brought to Police Regional Office in Zamboanga City to rest properly.

According to ARMM Regional Director Joel Goltiao, Valderama looks very tired and really wanted to sleep. They asked him if their abductors hurt them, Valderama said they were not hurt.

Goltiao said there were no indications that Valderama was tortured or hurt because he has no injuries or bruises. On the reports that two of the were separated from the other two, Valderama told Goltiao that they were not separated and they are all in the same area but with escorts all the time but they are moving from one place to another.

Goltiao said the negotiators and crisis management committee are doubling their efforts now for the release of other three, Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion and Professor Octavio Dinampo. They are hoping that the next release will happen soon and the abductors will release the three and not one by one.

The PNP do not want to comment on the ransom demand, because according to them the no ransom policy should be implemented.

However, Ismaji confirmed that they gave Php100,000 on the request of the abductors, “They asked for money and Vice Governor Nur-ana Saidula raised money. According to them the money will use for the expenses on their victims,” the Mayor said.

The said money were also known as board and lodging payment. If Goltiao said that the negotiations is on-going, Ismaji said the abductors are now turning off their cellphone every time they are calling them.

“We are starting all over again, because they turned off their phones, we only communicate through phones. But we are exerting all our effort to safely recover Ces Drilon and others,” Ismaji said.

The PNP meantime is letting Valderama to rest first, once he is relaxed Goltiao said that they will interview him on their situation when he was abducted and to know what will they cover in the area.