DOJ slams ABS-CBN on showing the 'kidnap' documentary

Miami
July 14, 2008
Story 3: DOJ slams ABS-CBN on showing the 'kidnap' documentary

The prosecutor panel on the kidnap for ransom case slams the ABS-CBN for airing their documentary on the kidnap incident on their employees.

Senior State Prosecutor Emily Delos Santos made the statement before the start of the scheduled preliminary investigation at the CIDG at Camp Crame Monday at 2:00 pm.

She said on her statement, "Be it noted that it was the lawyer of the ABS-CBN on the hearing conducted during June 30, who first ask the panel to guarantee that the footage which was viewed later that afternoon be not leaked to the media. In our desire to preserve the confidentiality of the proceedings, we even turned over to the CIDG our copy of the said video clip."

She also said that she wants to correct the impression that the prosecution panel is the one who do not want the document to be shown. "We are not for the suppression of the evidence," Delos Santos said.

She added that they are expecting that both parties, complainants and respondents not to take advantage of the power of media and just be fair.

She also emphasize that they are independent and impartial and will exercise fairness on determining probable cause.

Meanwhile, Ces Orena-Drilon, express sadness over Profesor Octavio Dinampo's supplemental afidavit because they have contradicting statement on how Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji came in as negotiator.

"According to him, the reason why Isnaji was chosen to be the negotiator because my family already chosen Vice-Governor (Lady Ann) Saidulla, it was not like that. What happened was the kidnappers first asked Isnaji to be their negotiator then I asked the kidnappers to approved of the Vice-Governor as the negotiator for my family," Drilon said in an interview.

She also added that they are all hostages and she expects that they will have one statement on what happened to them. She also wants to make an appeal to the Professor, "so my appeal to the professor, why are you clearing them, do you know that they're not really involved? do you know, you were there in the jungle, how did you know?"

Drilon said that when they were released the police showed to them some evidences and debriefing of the Isnajis that would might have links on the involvement of the father-and-son on the kidnapping.

However, Dinampo said he did not see the documents that Drilon is talking about and he even asked to copy furnished him so that he may know what it is. "They did not give me any single affidavit."