I watched ABS-CBN’s special news show entitled Kidnap. It was all about the kidnapping and eventual release of the tv network’s prime reporter Ces Drilon and her two cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama. The tv special captured what was running in the minds of these three people while being held by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
While watching the show, you can see and feel the trauma that the group experienced. Ces is probably still experiencing it all. You can just see it on her face. It was also a very moving narration of what transpired, what happened that the cameras were not able to capture. What touched me the most was the phone conversations between Ces and her brother. At one point, Ces tearfully said to her brother… “Sorry ha” (I’m sorry). I really cried that time. It must be really hard for her thinking that her family were not just worrying about her but also gathering their savings to complete the 5Million pesos ransom money that ASG will get to release Ces and the others.
Another touching part was the narration of how both Angelo and Jimmy’s respect for her somehow saved Ces from the malicious intentions of the ASG. Ces kept on saying that the two guys really took care of her. And to punctuate their respect for Ces, the two cameramen said that they will go anywhere, even back to the ASG’s den, as long as they’re with Ces.
I don’t know why the government still cannot bring down this ASG. What they did to Ces’ group and to those they previously captured (some beheaded, some released that included Gracia Burnham) is simply horrible. I cannot begin to imagine the horrors that these three people went through, especially Ces. Someone should do something to this group fast. Otherwise, a kidnapping will happen again soon. And this time, who knows what will happen to the victims.
*You can read more about the kidnapping here, here and here.
*Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News Online.
