Kidnapping: Who Wins This Time
June 17, 2008The good news is: the deadline for the payment of the ransom for Ces Drilon and her cameraman, due 12 noon today, has been extended. Ces was supposed to conduct and interview with the Abu Sayyaf last week but they suddenly disappeared. After a news blackout, the news came out that she, together with her two cameramen and a guide are under the “hospitality” of the said group. I say “hospitality” because they are supposed to pay board and lodging in the amount higher than what is charged by a 5 star hotel yet in lackluster surroundings. The bad news, the government discourages the payment of the “board and lodging fee” or what they call the ransom.
Personally, I do not believe that the ABS-CBN will refuse to pay the ransom. To be callous about the situation, it is a win-win situation for both parties. The Abu Sayyaf get their money and gets to display thier power, ABS-CBN gets a super-exclusive in-depth report on the Abu Sayyaf. It is the stuff that is an investigative journalist’s wet dream. Think about it. What would any new bureau do in their place? When Ces and the cameraman are released, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, will be tuned in to ABS CBN. Hello ratings!
If they refuse to pay the ransom, and something happens to the hostages, it would be a PR nightmare for ABS. And with the recent ongoings about the MERALCO overcharging, ABS cannot really afford more negative publicity.
The government can also make some noises about the ABS-CBN paying the ransom despite being advised not to. At least they do not lose face.
The real losers here are, as always, the hostages and their families.
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