Mayor Isnaji pocketed much of P5-M ransom for Ces Drilon

June 20, 2008

Mayor Alvarez Isnaji of Indanan, Sulu pocketed much of the the P5-million ransom for the release of an abducted ABS-CBN news team led by Ces Drilon and their guide, Mindanao peace advocate Octavio Dinampo.

Director General Avelino Razon Jr., Philippine National Police chief, said Isnaji “kept to himself” P3-million and paid the kidnappers of the news team and the peace advocate P2 million.

Razon said the money was produced by the family of the television journalist.

The police official also showed two pictures to the media at a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City. The pictures showed Isnaji, his son, Haider, Sulu Vice-Governor Lady Ann Sahidulla gathered around the P5-million ransom.

Also in the pictures was Senior Superintendent Willy Quidato of the PNP-Intelligence Group, whom Razon said was sent to Sulu on a covert operation in connection with the kidnapping.

He said Quidato was sent to Sulu after local police sources said the leader of the kidnap group was a certain “Larin-Larin.”

“Larin-Larin is the alias of Mayor Isnaji,” Razon said.

Isnaji and his son have been charged with kidnapping. They are currently detained at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

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