Ces Drilon and Company finally released

Ces Drillon, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Angelo Valderama are finally all free," ABS-CBN said in a statement. "We are thankful our prayers have been answered and our efforts rewarded."

Ces Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo were released late Tuesday night, nine days after they were abducted in Sulu province. Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon confirmed the hostages were released at around 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The release of Ces Drillon, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Angelo Valderama could not have been possible without the cooperation of the people of Sulu and their local government. We thank them and share their hope for enduring peace in Mindanao.

"They were picked up by Jun Isnaji and secured by four policemen at Sitio Danasi, lower Sinumaan, Talipao, Sulu and brought to the house of Mayor Alvarez Isnaji," Razon related in a text message. Jun Isnaji is Haider Isnaji, the mayor’s son. "Ces Drilon and company are in good condition but they will immediately be given medical attention and appropriate nutrition. A plan for airlift o Zamboanga, and a reunion with family are also being considered," said Razon. He said the three will have to first undergo a debriefing in Zamboanga City before they are flown back to Manila. Ces Drilon, Encarnacion and Dinampo were with another ABS-CBN cameraman, Angelo Valderama, when they were kidnapped in Maimbung, Sulu, on June 8 while they were on the way to interview a top commander of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.Angelo Valderama was released on June 12 after a P2-million ransom was reportedly paid for his “board and lodging.”

In a phone interview Tuesday night from Zamboanga City with reporters in Camp Crame, Razon denied that any ransom payment or concession had been made to the kidnappers who were believed to be Abu Sayyaf members. He said the negotiators had built on the goodwill developed with the kidnappers since the release of Valderama last week and the “cancellation” of Tuesday’s noon deadline for the payment of P15 million.

The release of the hostages, Razon claimed, was merely "due to the persistent and persuasive efforts of the local crisis committee under Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and Governor Sakur Tan."

No military or police elements were present in the release operations.

Mayor Isnaji had been under pressure to secure the release of the captives, except that earlier Tuesday, Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan said he had stopped all negotiations with the kidnappers.

Haider Isnaji also said he had been on the phone with the kidnappers around six times beginning with their first call at 6:15 a.m. on Tuesday.

“I told them that no P15 million is forthcoming, that both the government and ABS-CBN have a no-ransom policy,” he said, adding that the kidnappers “finally dropped the deadline.”

He said he was able to convince the kidnappers “to accept a livelihood package instead.”

Razon said that if there was any lesson from the kidnapping, it was also to properly exercise press freedom.

"Ang aral po dito laging sinasabi hindi natin puwedeng i-exercise press freedom na malalagay ang [The lesson here is we can't exercise press freedom by putting] reporters or journalists in harm's way, na hawak ng terrorista or criminal elements," said Razon.

Thank God that this kidnapping incident has already finish. We at photoshop world - your graphics and photoshop tutorials are happy and thankful for those who help for resolving this as early as possible.