MANILA, Philippines - After staying in jail for the past 22 months, Indanan, Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji returned home Tuesday to reclaim his post and jumpstart his campaign for re-election.

Isnaji arrived at Zamboanga City Airport Tuesday morning where he was welcomed by relatives and grandchildren. He said he plans to meet his supporters in Indanan to discuss projects and plans that were left hanging after his detention in Taguig.

"I am very happy that I can be with my family at last. It was really difficult for them to travel from Sulu to Manila just to be able to visit me," he said.

When asked about his feelings towards the people who indicted him and caused him to be away from his family and home town, he said: “All is well and forgiven.”
 
Alvarez and his son Haider were implicated in the kidnapping of ABS-CBN Senior Reporter Ces Drilon and her crew in Sulu in June 2008.
 
On Monday, the Taguig Regional Trial Court acquitted the Indanan Mayor and his son, Haider, in the kidnapping of an ABS-CBN news team in June 2008.

Private prosecutor Vince Bayhon said the judge gave credence to the testimony of Prof. Octavio Dinampo, a professor in Mindanao State University, who was with Ces Drilon and her crew during the kidnapping. Dinampo had testified that the Isnajis could not have helped the kidnappers.

Bayhon said he will appeal the decision before the Court of Appeals after the judge failed to consider some of the evidence presented by the prosecution. He said among the evidence presented before the court was an Anti-Money Laundering Council report, detailing the bank accounts of the Isnajis.

He said a separate court even denied the bail petition of the Isnajis.  With a report from Jewel Reyes, ABS-CBN News

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