MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police has launched operations against the kidnappers of a television news crew and a professor after the victims were freed late Tuesday, an official said.
Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao police director, said Wednesday that all troops in the region were "in operation mode" against members of the Abu Sayyaf group, several of whom ABS-CBN’s Ces Drilon identified in a photo gallery.
"We are on all out offensive against the kidnappers and the perpetrators of the crime. We have identified them through pictures and aliases," said Goltiao in a phone interview.
Goltiao said police were also conducting checkpoints in the area and a gunban was being implemented.
Meanwhile, Goltiao belied reports that Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, who served as negotiator, and Octavio Dinampo, a professor at the Mindanao State University, who was abducted along with Drilon and her crew, were undergoing questioning because they were being treated as suspects.
"All of them are undergoing questioning, debriefing, even Ces. But it will all depend on the evidence gathered," said Goltiao.
Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, and Dinampo, along with Isnaji were flown to Zamboanga from Sulu via Philippine Airforce Helicopter. They arrived in Zamboanga around 3:45 a.m. Wednesday, said Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, PNP spokesman.
Bartolome said the group was brought to the PNP office where they were reunited with Angelo Valderama, Drilon’s assistant cameraman who was released after negotiators paid "board and lodging" fee.
"They were later attended by Dr./Major Roberto Calupitan of CNGH, West Mindanao Command and his medical team. They were allowed to rest after a light hot meal," Bartolome added.
It is not immediately clear what time Drilon and company will be flown back to Manila, he said.
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