Three journalists from ABS-CBN, a leading Filipino media network, along with their source have been missing since 8 June 2008 in Sulu, Mindanao. It's believed the missing four have been abducted by the Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group based in Southern Philippines.

ABS-CBN network released a statement on 10 June 2008 stating that senior
correspondent Cecilia Victoria "Ces" Oreña-Drilon and cameramen Jimmy
Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama were "missing in Sulu," together with
Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo, and that "(a)ll efforts are underway to find them and bring them home."

Drilon and her crew were with Professor Dinampom, an activist and peace advocate who invited the team to Sulu, when armed men seized them in the village of Kulasi in the town of Maimbung. The four were on their way to interview a senior Abu Sayyaf terror leader Radulan Sahiron, who is said to be planning to surrender

The Abu Sayyaf is now demanding P10 million for the safe release of the hostages, according a military report. ABS-CBN has said they will not pay. In a statement, the network said, "ABS CBN News will abide by its policy not to pay ransom because this would embolden kidnap for ransom groups to abduct other journalists, putting more lives at risk."

"The fears held for the ABS-CBN crew are a stark reminder that journalism in the Philippines has not ceased to be an incredibly dangerous profession and we honor those journalists who work for press freedom under such difficult circumstances," said the International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific.

This would not be the first time journalists have been abducted by Abu Sayyaf. In 2000, ABS-CBN's Val Cuenca and Maan Macapagal were held for nearly a week by the terrorist organization, before being released after successful negotiations. Also in 2000, 10 foreign journalists were kidnapped and later released after their captor's stripped the victims of their equipment and valuables and two French journalists were abducted later that year, but successfully escaped. In 2002, a freelance journalist Arlyn dela Cruz was also abducted by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. 

Source: GMAnews.TV