Press Release
June 13, 2008

Jinggoy to GMA Gov't:
"Get tough on the bandits, not on critics and media"

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada yesterday said it is the true enemies of the State such as the bandit groups in Sulu that the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should really get tough against, and not its critics and the media.

The call was aired by Estrada following the confirmation by the ABS CBN media network that their senior correspondent Ces Drilon and her two cameramen were kidnapped in Sulu, together with a university professor, by a group believed to be the Abu Sayyaf, which was reported to be demanding ransom.

After the abduction of Drilon and her crew, the Philippine Navy also admitted that two Marine corporals, Jessie Duatin and Bernie Alcabasa, were taken at gunpoint by Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels led by Commander Malat Sulaiman, who is also known as Long Masud.

The rebels demanded the release of the commander's nephew, Salih Dungkal Alih, in exchange for the freedom of the two marines, the Philippine Navy said in a statement. Alih had been arrested Friday in Basilan province's Lamitan township as a suspected member of the Al Queda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group, and has been implicated in the beheading last year of 14 marines.

"Whenever scandals and controversies about the administration get uncovered, it has always been fast to blame and pin critics, especially the legitimate political opposition and the militant groups. One latest instance of this was amidst the noise generated by the rice and energy crises, when the administration was again quick to declare it as another destabilization attempt," Estrada said, adding:

"Also, when media people expose anomalies in government, they receive adversarial reaction from GMA Administration, get slapped with libel and other charges and sent to jail, while some even mysteriously disappear. We cannot forget here the Peninsula Manila incident where journalists who covered the incident and aired the grievances of the Magdalo soldiers were rounded up, handcuffed and herded into a police station."

"But now, we have a case of kidnapping in Sulu, yet this same administration that has consistently showed a tough stance against its critics and the media has not, up to now, lifted a finger to go after the bandits, and there are even reports that it is entertaining the idea of negotiating with the kidnappers!" Estrada exclaimed.

Estrada said the full might of the government's military, police and legal arsenal should be directed at the bandits who are clearly the enemy not only of the government but of all peace-loving people.

"Of course, the most important concern now in this situation is to secure the safe freedom of Ms. Drilon and her group. But, we should be tough enough to also crush these bandits once and for all," Estrada said.

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