THE Abu Sayyaf kidnappers of prominent Filipino journalist Ces Ore?a-Drilon and her companions have requested authorities to send toiletries and medicines for their victims who remain under captivity on the southern Philippine island of Sulu. Radio reports from Sulu on Sunday said the request was made through a text message sent through Drilon's cell phone by the kidnappers to Haider Isnaji, the son of Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji, who is negotiating for the release of the hostages. The reports said the text message sent on Saturday was the first communication between the kidnappers and the negotiators after the release of cameraman Angelo Valderama from the ABS-CBN broadcasting network where Drilon also works as a reporter. Valderama was released on Thursday evening and is now being kept in a safe house in Zamboanga City by the police. Though authorities denied paying a 2-million-peso ransom to secure Valderama's freedom, sources in Sulu disclosed the pay-off was even higher at 5 million pesos. “There was a sudden twist in the already agreed amount, with the kidnappers jacking up the ransom from 2 million to 5 million pesos,” two Sulu-based sources said in two separate interviews. Because of the urgent situation, one of the negotiators personally shelled out 2 million pesos while another unnamed donor gave 1 million pesos in the effort to save Valderama. __
