"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