Philippine TV crew held hostage
Police enter talks seeking release of ABS-CBN anchorwoman and crew.
Joel Goltiao, the regional police chief superintendent, said there was a “great possibility” that the journalists would be freed.
“Negotiations are being conducted,” he told a local radio.
“There is a great possibility that we will obtain the release of Ces Drilon … but we cannot give an exact date.”
Goltiao also told journalists to stay away from Jolo because police are unable to ensure their safety.
“What happened to Ces may happen to them,” he said.
Drilon is the third local journalist to be kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf since 2000.
‘Unacceptable’
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said the Abu Sayyaf has been involved in the kidnappings of more than 30 journalists.
“We hope that those who have abducted the journalists and their guide will hear the appeals being made on their behalf by many of the country’s leading figures,” the group said.
“Taking hostages is unacceptable. We call on all those could have any influence over the kidnappers to try to get Drilon and her colleagues released.”
The Abu Sayyaf group is notorious for a string of bombings and kidnappings for ransom and has been linked by Philippine and US intelligence agencies to the al-Qaeda network.
The group says it is fighting for a separate Muslim state in the southern Philippines.