Sulu mayor charged with complicity in kidnapping

July 22, 2008

The Philippine Department of Justice (DoJ) today filed charges against Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son Haider for their role in the recent kidnapping of ABC-CBN journalist Ces Drilon and several others. The charges are based on findings from a panel of prosecutors who allege that Isnaji’s “negotiations” with the hostage-takers favoured them and not the victims. This is despite the fact that Octavio Dinampo, a peace activist also kidnapped with the group, states that he thinks Isnaji and his son had no part in the hostage taking.