Senate defense committee sees no ransom in Arlyn’s release

The Senate committee on national defense and security is inclined to believe that no ransom was paid in exchange for the release of broadcast journalist Arlyn de la Cruz.

"That is the official statement. We have to accept that," committee chairman Sen. Ramon Magsaysay said yesterday after a hearing on the kidnapping of De la Cruz.

"Maybe, something will come up in the next hearing," Magsaysay said, adding that as it is, when those involved say there was no ransom paid, the committee has no reason to think otherwise.

De la Cruz maintained money did not change hands between the authorities negotiating for her liberty, including her godmother Cherry Cobarrubias, University of the Philippines Prof. Mashur Jundam and Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda-Leviste and her abductors.

De la Cruz said money was discussed just to keep her abductors busy negotiating with the ones helping her get freed and provide traces of her whereabouts.

Cobarrubias disclosed that instead of preparing the money, she contacted the military for a rescue operation for De la Cruz, as well as Legarda to assist in the talks for the release of the journalist.

Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya said there are a number of unscrupulous individuals in Mindanao kidnapping journalists covering the area and they are not actually part of organized and known groups.

De la Cruz maintained that it was not the Abu Sayyaf Group that held her hostage, though she was supposed to meet one of its leaders, Khadafy Janjalani for an interview.

She said the group that abducted her thought she would bring the $2-million ransom for the American couple Martin and Gracia Burnham kidnapped by the ASG.