Noli to media: Don’t ignore Arlyn’s plea

Sen. Noli de Castro urged the media yesterday not to ignore the plea of broadcast journalist Arlyn de la Cruz who has reportedly been in the hands of a composite group of armed men in Sulu for more than two months now.

"This is not the time to be cynical about her captivity, and also not the time to practice competitiveness or outscooping one another for a story. This is the time for us to be united to help a colleague in danger," said De Castro, himself a broadcaster.

The senator said De la Cruz had called him on his cellphone, narrated her ordeal and bewailed the apparent lack of public concern on her plight.

De Castro showed reporters a picture of De la Cruz with a University of the Philippines (UP) professor, a certain Max Jun Dam, and one of her captors, a certain Lakandula.

De la Cruz was reportedly waylaid and eventually taken hostage on Jan. 20 by a group of military integrees who thought she was in Jolo, Sulu to deliver ransom for American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham. — Aurea Calica