REVILLA STATEMENT ON CES DRILON RELEASE

I commend the Sulu crisis committee headed by Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidula and Indanan town Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, as well as other government officials, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police for the efforts they made for the safe release of ABS-CBN senior correspondent Ces Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Mindanao Peace Advocate Octavio Dinampo.

I also laud the media outfits who exercised sobriety in reporting about the incident to avoid aggravation of the situation. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, I reiterate my strong condemnation against the kidnapping of media practitioners. Members of the Fourth Estate should not fall prey to any group or of any interest.

The Drilon case should not end here. The military and police should continue their investigation of the kidnapping incident and preferably conduct an operation against the abductors.