PNP official in Sulu denies knowledge of ransom paid to Ces kidnappers

MANILA, Philippines – An official of the Philippine National Police in Sulu said yesterday that he had no knowledge of the ransom paid to kidnappers for the release of ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon, her two cameramen, and a university professor.

PNP provincial director Senior Superintendent Jul Asirim Kasim said he had not seen the two duffel bags supposedly containing the P15-million ransom which was carried by Frank Oreña, brother of Drilon.

“Wala naman silang dala, malaki yung duffel bags, dapat nakita ko (They didn’t carry anything. Duffel bags are big, I should have seen them),” Kasim told The STAR in an interview.

“I don’t know about the ransom. I was not part of the negotiation, but only the security of the people in my area of jurisdiction.”

However, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) showed a photograph of the Sulu provincial director holding two duffel bags at Jolo airport.

Reports said that the bags were brought by a Meralco-registered Cessna plane last June 17 to the Zamboanga City Airport.

Those on board the Cessna plane reportedly chartered SeaAir plane and delivered the two duffel bags to Haider Isnaji, Nasser Inawat, and Kasim at the Jolo airport the same day.

Sources said that the presence of the Meralco-registered Cessna plane and its occupants were closely monitored by police and military operatives.

Kasim, however, said that Inawat, a lawyer of the Isnajis in Sulu, arrived at the airport and was first met by members of the PNP-Aviation Security Group (ASG).

In his affidavit, Senior Superintendent Winnie Quidato, chief of the Intelligence Division of the Intelligence Group (IG), said that last June 17, he was told by Haider Isnaji that Kasim was holding Inawat and the ransom money.

“At around 4 p.m., I received a call from Jun (Isnaji) asking for assistance, informing me that Atty. Nasser Inawat has the ransom money with him, but he was being intercepted by the PD of Sulu and held at the provincial command. Jun suggested to me that being the representative of the DILG, I must intercede otherwise something bad might happen to the victims,” said Quidato.

Quidato, who was on covert operations, added that he even berated Jun for not giving him this information in advance so he could have properly coordinated with his superiors.

The police officer said he had also scolded the younger Isnaji for the secret negotiations that they conducted on the payment of ransom money.

Despite the accusation of the police that the Isnajis were involved in the kidnapping for ransom, the three victims did not mention it in the affidavits they submitted to the prosecution panel from the Department of Justice.

“Only Quidato was the complainant of the case,” said Isnajis’ lawyer Firdausi Abbas.

Virgilio Pablico, CIDG legal officer, said the private lawyers of the victims were given until June 30 to file their amended affidavits to include the Isnajis.

Senators’ reactions

Sen. Panfilo Lacson downplayed the need for the Senate to conduct an inquiry into the kidnapping the ABS-CBN news team and a peace advocate in Sulu.

“The PNP is handling it quite well. A Senate investigation might just distract the police from doing a fine job,” said Lacson, former police chief.

But Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said a Senate investigation into the kidnapping of Drilon and her crew members  –  Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama – “will help highlight government action.”

Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said the latest tragedy involving M/V Princess of the Stars and the kidnapping of Drilon and her two crewmembers reflect the “lawlessness” in the country.

Pangilinan stressed anew his view on the need to strengthen the country’s justice system. – With Christina Mendez