President Arroyo has instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to locate an ABS-CBN News team that went missing in Sulu province over the weekend. "The President has already instructed the PNP and the military to exhaust all means to determine w

President Arroyo has instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to locate an ABS-CBN News team that went missing in Sulu province over the weekend.

"The President has already instructed the PNP and the military to exhaust all means to determine who abducted Ces Drilon the soonest possible time," deputy presidential spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said, referring to the senior correspondent of ABS-CBN.

Aside from Drilon, her crew, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, also disappeared, along with their guide, Prof. Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State University .

Fajardo said Malacañang was expecting a report from authorities to update them of the situation.

Drilon, her team and Dinampo went missing Sunday after leaving a college hostel in Maimbung town. Drilon and her crew were supposed to be on special assignment in Sulu when they disappeared.

Witnesses said armed men intercepted them in Kulasi village in Maimbung.

Report with caution

In a statement released Tuesday morning, ABS-CBN said efforts are underway to find the crew members and bring them home.

The network, however, apepaled to other media organizations to report with caution.

"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 said.

"ABS-CBN News is in touch with the families and asks that their privacy be respected," it added.

Outgoing Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye also appealed to other media organizations to exercise caution in reporting about the missing ABS-CBN news team.

"We hope for her safety and that of her crew," he told reporters.

"Likewise, we appeal for caution and restraint in media reportage so as not to unduly hamper efforts to rescue them," he added.

Workable solution

Senator Aquilino Pimentel, in a statement, said the "saving of Ces Drilon and company is paramount."

He urged Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff Gen. Alexander Yano, the commanding general of the Southern Command of the AFP, the local officials of Sulu, and ulama leaders to "come up with a workable solution."

Pimentel also alleged that it was the "Abu Sayyaf Group" which took the group, and that it "must be held responsible."

For its part, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines appealed for the release of Drilon and company. "Whatever the abductors stand for, whatever their goals are, there is absolutely no justification for seizing journalists whose sole concern is to seek out the truth and present this as accurately as possible," the NUJP said in a statement.

The NUJP also called on authorities "to exert all efforts to ensure the safe return of the journalists and their host." At the same time, they urged for "sobriety among colleagues in the media in reporting about the incident so as not to aggravate the situation and endanger Drilon and her companions."

Amina Rasul of the Philippine Counci for Islam and Democracy also issued a statement Tuesday. She appealed to authorities to "exert all peaceful efforts to secure the safe release" of the victims, and prayed that the incident "will not be the trigger for another all-out war operation."

Mindanao peace group

Meanwhile, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), a group working for peace among Muslims, Christians, and indigenous peoples of Mindanao , said in a June 9 statement that it "strongly condemns" the abduction of its chairman, Prof. Dinampo, and the ABS-CBN team.

The MPC appealed to the "abductors to immediately release them unconditionally."

The rest of the MPC statement follows:

"Prof. Octa 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 . As a Convenor of the Bantay Ceasefire, Prof. Octavio has exemplified the ideals of active non-violence and the values of respect, tolerance and dialogue of life and faith."

"Prof. Octa has served as the link of Sulu to the outside world having developed good relations among civil society and the donor community in rehabilitating the war-ravaged communities in Sulu. 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."

"We, from the MPC had always felt we are safest in Sulu with Prof. Octa around us. At this time when he has fallen victim of the very violence that he has been trying to overcome, we readily lend our moral support and prayers as we continue to move mountains and hound the heavens for his safety and early release."

"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 kidnap victims. We also call on our religious leaders from both the Christian and Muslim faiths to extend whatever possible support. Let this crisis see the strength of our solidarity and dialogue as brothers and sisters in Mindanao ."

"We wish to extend our prayers and support to the families and loved ones of the kidnap victims. Rest assured that MPC will mobilize its Bantay Ceasefire volunteers, peace networks and allies especially among the grassroots to reclaim the freedom of our Chairman Prof. Octa, Ces Drilon and her companions. Finally, we all join our hands and ask God, Allah and Magbabaya to bless and grant our prayers."

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