Automotive Aftermarket $7 Billion Sales Boom Created by 2,000 Car Dealer Closings in 2009

Car Dealer Closings Are Creating a $7 Billion Parts and Service Sales Boom for the 2009 Independent (Non-Dealer) Aftermarket; This Is Part of the Greatest Restructuring of the Automotive Aftermarket Competitive Landscape Since World War II... Read More>>>

High on Drugs!

Watch this person as he speaks in english while he's high on drugs.

Betrayal led to our abduction, freed TV journalist admits

06/18/2008 | 11:02 AM

(Updated 1 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - After being freed by their captors, broadcast journalist Cecilia Victoria "Ces" Oreña-Drilon on Wednesday admitted that "betrayal" led to their abduction by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

In a press conference at a resort in Zamboanga City which was aired by radio dzBB, Drilon said: "There was some betrayal involved kaya kami nakidnap (that's why we were kidnapped)."

Drilon, however, did not give details on her claim, nor did she identify who betrayed them.

In a report, dzBB's Denver Trinidad quoted Drilon as saying they were treated well by their captors throughout their captivity, but "in a perverse kind of way."

"We were treated well, in a perverse kind of way," Drilon said.

In the press conference which was also attended by Senator Loren Legarda, Drilon said that at some point during their captivity, she, her cameraman and driver of them were tied by their captors.

Drilon also recalled that at one point, abductors threatened to execute cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and driver Angelo Valderama.

"We were tied at some point, ako, si Jimmy at Angel. May threat na pupugutan sila ng ulo (There were threats to behead them)," Drilon said, adding that during one time she was talking to Legarda, their captors slapped one of her fellow captives.

In a separate report, GMA's Flash Report said Drilon appeared emotional during the press conference which was held shortly before their flight back to Manila.

The television report said Drilon could not hold back tears as she recounted her ordeal in the hands of their captives, and thanked authorities for their safe release in Sulu shortly before midnight Tuesday.

"Unang una kasi di ba sabi nila hindi mo siguro maiintindihan ang halaga ng isang bagay hanggang malapit itong mawala sa iyo. We came close to losing our lives and we didn’t realize, isa sa pinag-iisipan ko nang matagal, I thought I was so reckless I didn’t think of my family that I put through a really terrible ordeal in the last 10 days," Drilon said.

"I've been in and out of Mindanao and all my years as a journalist ang gusto ko lang ay maintindihan ang sitwasyon dito, gumawa ng istorya tungkol dito (all I want is to understand the situation and do a story about it)," she added.

In the press conference, Drilon said she is cooperating with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in their ongoing investigation into the kidnapping incident.

Drilon said she remains in good condition although she admitted that she had difficulty eating while in captivity.

Source: Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV

Hands of two hostages tied as Abus issue ultimatum - Isnaji

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

AL JACINTO, GMANews.TV

06/16/2008 | 11:16 PM

SULU, Philippines – Abu Sayyaf bandits have reportedly tied the hands of two of their captives as the deadline they gave for the hostages’ families to pay the ransom approaches.

The bandits gave the families of ABS-CBN broadcaster Victoria "Ces" Oreña-Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, and Mindanao-based professor Octavio Dinampo until noon Tuesday to pay the P15-million ransom in exchange for the hostages’ freedom.

The ransom demand and ultimatum was disclosed Monday by Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, who was selected by the kidnappers to negotiate for the freedom of the victims.

"Nagbigay na ngayon ng warning sa akin. Pag di pa dumating ang ano hanggang 12 noon bukas, Tuesday, sabi nila wala na. Meaning, kahit hindi na daw ako makipag-usap sa kanila. Wala nang negosasyon (They already gave a warning that if they do not get the ransom payment by 12 noon Tuesday, they will stop negotiations for the captives release)," Isnaji said.

Isnaji said it was Drilon who told him Monday morning in a phone conversation that the bandits have already tied the hands of Encarnacion and Dinampo.

He said the kidnappers were angered by the slow progress of the talks with Drilon's family.

"She (Drilon) was crying and appealed again to fast track the negotiations. She said the kidnappers have tied the hands of Encarnacion and Dinampo," Isnaji said.

Isnaji’s son, Jun, said the Abu Sayyaf bandits threatened to hurt the hostages if their demands are not met by Tuesday noon.

“They threatened to harm the hostages if their demand is not met by noon on Tuesday. I don't know what they will do with the hostages. Let us just pray that nothing bad will happen to them," he said.

ABS-CBN, however, is not keen on paying ransom to facilitate the captives’ release even as it denied that it has abandoned its employees.

In a statement, ABS-CBN said it is "doing everything it can" to assist in the release of Drilon and Encarnacion.

"We are deeply saddened and troubled by accusations that ABS-CBN has abandoned Ces and Jimmy. ABS-CBN is doing everything it can to help them and their families through this harrowing ordeal," ABS-CBN's statement stated.

"However, ABS-CBN will abide by its policy not to pay ransom because this would embolden kidnap-for-ransom groups to abduct other journalists, putting more lives at risk," it added.

Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, head of the local crisis management committee, also appealed to negotiators not to pay ransom.

"Paying ransom is not the solution to resolve this hostage crisis, but it will create us more trouble because the Abu Sayyaf can use the money to buy weapons and finance terrorism," he said.

Drilon and her team, along with Dinampo, were abducted last June 8 in Maimbung while on a coverage. They were reportedly on their way to interview Radulan Sahiron, a senior Abu Sayyaf leader who has sent surrender feelers to authorities.

The team’s driver, Angelo Valderama, was freed June 12 after negotiators allegedly paid P2 million in ransom.

As this developed, authorities claimed to have uncovered the identities of at least two of the Abu Sayyaf bandits involved in the abduction of Drilon and company.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame Monday, Chief Supt. Hadji Sukarno Ikbala Sr, director of the Police Community Relations Group (PCRG), identified the two suspects as Sulayman Patta alias Amah Ma'as and Abu Harris; and a certain Walid alias Tuan Wals.

Ikbala also said that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has approved a P1 million reward for any information leading to the capture of two suspected Abu Sayyaf militants. - GMANews.TVthier

Kidnappers free cameraman; P2M paid for 'board, lodging'

AL JACINTO, GMANews.TV
06/12/2008 | 10:50 PM

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A television cameraman who was abducted by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Jolo, Sulu, last Sunday, was freed Thursday evening, police told GMANews.TV in a telephone interview.

Reports quoted Undersecretary Amilasan Amilbajar of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao as saying a P2-million "board and lodging fee" was paid in exchange for Valderama's freedom.

"[Angelo] Valderama is finally freed. He will undergo medical examination and debriefing by government authorities. We are still waiting for developments on the other hostages," Superintendent Julasirim Kasim, the Sulu police chief, told GMANews.TV.

Valderama was released to Indanan Mayor Isnaji Alvarez in the village of Sinumaan in Talipao, Sulu, at about 8:30 p.m., said Kasim, National Police provincial director.

As of posting time, the kidnappers were still holding ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and another cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, including their guide, Professor Octavio Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University.

Valderama was undergoing a "debriefing" as of posting time in the provincial capital of Jolo, Kasim said, adding that the cameraman was "OK naman" and had no visible bruises or torture marks.

"Valderama looks OK," Kasim said.

Alvarez said Valderama was freed as a "gift." He refused to say if a ransom was paid to secure Valderama's release.

The kidnappers earlier asked for Alvarez, a former Moro National Liberation Front leader, to negotiate for the release of the hostages.

Alvarez is running for governor in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections in August.

It was not immediately known whether ransom was paid in exchange for the release of Valderama, but the kidnappers have reportedly demanded as much as P50 million for the hostages.

The kidnappers originally demanded P10 million, but radio network dzRH on Thursday said the bandits asked for P50 million.

The report said the hostages should have been freed on Wednesday after unnamed negotiators agreed to pay the ransom.

The radio network, which quoted "unnamed sources privy to the negotiations," also reported that the kidnappers already lowered their demand to P25 million.

The reports could not be independently confirmed.

Alvarez said Valderama was freed as a "gift." He refused to say if a ransom was paid to secure Valderama's release.

ABS-CBN earlier issued a statement saying it would not pay ransom to avoid emboldening kidnap-for-ransom groups "to abduct other journalists, putting more lives at risk."

Proof of life

Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano earlier on Thursday said the government received "proof of life" from the abductors of Drilon, her crew and Dinampo.

Yano gave the assurance that Drilon and her companions are alive.

Armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf group took the journalists on Sunday while they were on their way to the town of Maimbung in Sulu.

Asked if there is any proof that the four are alive and well, Yano said the Armed Forces has been receiving "information from the committee on the ground."

"I'd rather not go into the details. Suffice to say there is proof of life," he added.

Yano made the statement as he revealed that government forces are prepared to use force if necessary to secure the victims.

"We have several options from the most benign option to the extreme use of our arms, but all these options we will withhold pending the other activities on the ground so we would not rather telegraph our moves," he said.

Yano said a crisis team that included representatives of the military, the police and local government officials, among others has been formed in Jolo.

He said that they received initial information showing that the Abu Sayyaf might be involved.

"It's a plain and simple terrorist act and other details later on can be discovered," he said when asked if the disappearance of the four was politically related or a simple case of plain kidnapping.

Yano reiterated that the no ransom policy remains in effect adding that the government will not negotiate with the bandits. He said there is also no timetable set. "It's not easy to set a timetable for unreasonable groups, so we'd rather work on our own,"Yano said. - GMANews.TV

ABS-CBN reporter, 2 camera crew reported missing in Sulu

06/10/2008 | 05:55 AM

MANILA, Philippines – ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. on Tuesday confirmed reports that its reporter Cecilia Victoria "Ces" Oreña-Drilon and two cameramen went missing in the province of Sulu.

“Three ABS-CBN journalists Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Angelo Valderama are missing in Sulu," an ABS-CBN statement released Tuesday morning said.

"All efforts are underway to find them and bring them home. Until we learn more details, ABS-CBN News requests other media to report on this matter with utmost consideration for the safety of our news team," it added.

Earlier reports said Drilon and her crew were with university professor Octavio Dinampo when armed men seized them in the village of Kulasi in the town of Maimbung.

"We received reports that the four were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf led by Albader Parad," Supt. Julasirim Kasim, Sulu's provincial police chief, said.

"There is no demand yet for ransom," Kasim said, adding that Sulu Governor Sakur Tan has already convened the Crisis Management Committee.

"Governor Sakur Tan is very worried over the safety of the victims and we are doing everything to locate them," Kasim said.

Drilon's group was staying at the Sulu State College hostel in Jolo town before they were reported missing, said police Inspector Usman Pingay.

"We don't know what really happened and why Drilon went without security to Maimbung," Pingay said.

A hotel staff said he saw Drilon leaving. "She was really in a hurry and I even asked her where they were going and Ces Drilon only replied that they would just be nearby. They never came back since Saturday," the hotel staff said.

Appeal

The Mindanao People's Caucus, which is headed by Dinampo, issued a statement Sunday calling for "moral support and prayers" for the safety of their leader.

The MPC statement said Dinampo and Drilon were on their way to Maimbung when armed men flagged them down.

"We appeal to the law enforcers and the military to exhaust all peaceful and traditional methods of negotiation in working out the release of the...victims. We also call on our religious leaders from both the Christian and Muslim faiths to extend whatever possible support," the MPC statement said.

It said Dinampo is a credible and well-respected leader from Sulu and a leading peace advocate in Mindanao. He has been in the forefront of peace advocacy, good governance and relief and rehabilitation efforts in the conflict affected areas in Mindanao.

"He has been a gracious and reliable guide of many visitors to Sulu and had consistently protected his visitors even at the risk of his own life," the statement said. - GMANews.TV, with reports from Al Jacinto and Romy Elusfa