Ledesma admits ransom

Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV virtually admitted at Malacañang yesterday that ransom was part of what he labeled as the "tried and tested formula" in dealing with his two children’s kidnappers.

However, he also credited his fiancée actress Assunta de Rossi’s "woman’s touch" in the release of his daughter Cristina Julieta Victoria, 10, and son Julio Carlos Tomas, 5.

Ledesma said the kidnappers demanded "a big amount" of ransom, but refused to categorically deny that his family shelled out money for the Tuesday release in Makati City of the two children, who were kidnapped last Friday, Sept. 13, in San Juan.

However, a source privy to the negotiations said Ledesma had indeed bought for only P5 million the freedom of his children and not P20 million or P50 million as speculated.

At the height of police-assisted negotiations, Ledesma was alleged to have been monitored as having withdrawn P40 million from his account in a Makati branch of a foreign bank.

Pressed by Malacañang reporters to specify the ransom demanded by kidnappers, Ledesma said, "I’d rather not say. Let’s not sensationalize it. Let’s just say the amount was substantial."

Ledesma talked to Malacañang reporters after a 15-minute courtesy call on President Arroyo where he presented the two children and De Rossi. He thanked the President for keeping a personal tab on police operations while his children were being held captive.

Ledesma, the two kids and De Rossi went to Malacañang under heavy security by the Philippine National Police (PNP) because the kidnappers were still at large, the same reason cited by the congressman why he could not reveal details of the "tried and tested formula."

On De Rossi’s assistance in solving the case, Ledesma said, "There was one time I had to go to the restroom and she was the one who had to take a call. Apparently that helped... the lady’s touch helped." He did not elaborate.

He said revealing the "tried and tested formula" which he said was part of operational information would not help the public or his colleagues in Congress who wanted to know what he was talking about.

"I was told that I was going to be invited by the Senate and the House of Representatives to share my views on this. I will, in fact, address all of these points with them and for me to share operational information," he said.

He said he was willing to testify in Congress in "closed-door executive sessions."

Meanwhile, the source who was privy to the negotiations with kidnappers said police anti-kidnapping agents and other allied law enforcement agencies have not abandoned the case. The source said the PNP was pursuing vital leads on the case.

The source said police agents were able to trace the area where the Ledesma kids were kept during their five-day captivity. He refused to give details.

Chief Superintendent Eduardo Matillano, the newly installed director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said yesterday that the group which snatched the Ledesma kids in San Juan was included in the PNP "order of battle."

Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, PNP spokesman, appealed for patience and understanding in the seemingly slow pace of investigation into the Ledesma case.