CIDG hails denial of bail for Isnajis

MANILA, Philippines — The police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Tuesday welcomed a court ruling denying Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider to post bail on the kidnapping charges filed against them by a television anchor and her crew.

In a statement, CIDG Director Raul Castañeda lauded the “fair” justice system, adding that the court ruling would finally give justice to ABS-CBN anchor Ces Drilon and her crew, who were seized by a band of suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists in Sulu last year.

“Justice for ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon and her two cameramen is at hand and may finally be served,” Castañeda said.

The Pasig City regional trial court junked the Isnajis petition to post bail , saying the evidence of guilt was strong against them.

Drilon and her ABS-CBN cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderrama went to Sulu in June 2008 to interview a leader of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group when they were abducted and held captive for months by suspected members of the Islamic extremist group.

The Isnajis helped in the negotiations for their release but came under suspicion of being in league with the kidnappers. They were charged before the Sulu regional trial court in July 2008.

Judge Bensaudi Arabani of the Sulu RTC inhibited himself from the case and private complainants petitioned for a change of venue because of security concerns.
The Supreme Court allowed the transfer of the case to the Pasig RTC.

The Isnajis are presently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

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