Professor Dinampo files supplemental affidavit in favor of the Isnaji

Miami
July 7, 2008
Story 2: Professor Dinampo files supplemental affidavit in favor of the Isnaji

The professor who was kidnapped together with the ABS-CBN news team last June 2008, has filed a supplemental affidavit in support of the Isnajis.

During the preliminary investigation Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo has filed a supplemental affidavit saying, “Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and (son) Haider Isnaji are absolutely innocent of the said kidnapping, the fact being that they had had nothing to do with it an it is very unfair and unreasonable to charge them of such offense which they never committed.”

Dinampo was kidnapped together with Ces Orena Drilon, Angelo Valderama and Jimmy Encarnacion last June 8, 2008 in Indanan, Sulu.

The supplemental affidavit of Dinampo is the third that he submitted to the preliminary investigation. The first two was submitted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on the first day of preliminary investigation last June 3, 2008.

On the supplemental that Dinampo filed, he implicated Juamil “Mameng” Biyaw as “part of the kidnapping team.”

Dinampo said that Mameng admittedly says that most if their abductors were relatives of Mameng and he was the one who made the arrangement for the planned interview with Radullan Sahiron Abu Sayyaf Group leader. He said that the arrangement was started four months before the abduction in June. “It gave them time to plot and plan the kidnapping, Mameng is a trusted lieutenant of Sahiron; he was set free without any threat and in fact was never implicated as part of the team who abducted us when circumstances showed that he was the person who brought us in danger and delivered us in the hands of our captors,” Dinampo added.

For Dinampo, Isnaji’s role was merely as the negotiator. And also because Mayor Isnaji is the most credible person whom the kidnappers. Could rely upon in the given situation and circumstances also because they know the Isnajis and if they will betrayed by the Isnajis they could kill its family.

Meanwhile, Drilon has accepted what Dinampo did and said that even in their affidavit it is only circumstantial. “We do not really know anything because we were there (being abducted) but if you will make connections on other affidavits you may see what possible happened,” Drilon said.

Drilon also said that Dinampo cannot accused Mayor Isnaji so as she because they do not really know what happened. “What he came here is to pinpoint Mameng Biyaw as the one who betrayed us. He feels that Biyaw did not told everything to the police,” she said.

Senior Superintendent Joel Coronel, CIDG lead investigator said they will review the latest affidavit of Dinampo and admitted that they were surprised on it. “We were not expecting that he will be executing a third affidavit because he submitted an initial affidavit and then a supplemental virtually corroborating the statements given by Ces Drilon and then today he submitted another affidavit which I understand is in support of Mayor Isnaji,” Colonel said.

Colonel said that if there will be inconsistencies on the affidavit, they might consider Dinampo as suspect as well.

Sulu Vice-Governor also came at the preliminarily investigation to sworn in her statement linking the Isnajis at the kidnapping incident, but she left immediately not finishing the preliminary investigation hearing.

Meanwhile, the lawyer of the Isnajis said that the issue of ransom did not came from the Mayor and considere Dinampo as credible witness because he understands the Tausig dialet used by the kidnappers and may know what or how is the negotiation went through.

The Isnajis filed their counter-affidavit on the charges against them.

On Friday, July 11, another hearing was set and this time it is for the clarifiratory questioning.