It Pays to be a Terrorist

Published on July 19, 2004 By CS Guy In Current Events

Wow, I sure hope this story in the Phillipines Daily Tribune is incorrect. I would hate to think that Iraqi terrorists were getting more positive reinforcement.

The Malaysian government, Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday refused to confirm or deny reports that $6 million in ransom was paid out to the Iraqi kidnappers for the release of Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz in time for President Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (Sona) scheduled for July 26.

Officials from both governments declined to give any statement and evaded media queries on the Tribune report which stated, quoting intelligence sources, that $5 million was shelled out by Malaysia while the Philippines coughed off $1 million from the Landbank of the Philippines for the release of De la Cruz.

And from the Manila Times:
TAKING advantage of the government’s changed stance against terrorism, the New People’s Army said it would not release the soldiers it captured until the government suspends all military and police operations in the Bicol region.

Comments

bakerstreet

on Jul 19, 2004

If you look back on some of the worse kidnappings in their own nation, you'll find that the Filippino government has paid huge ransoms in the past.

CS Guy

on Jul 19, 2004

If you look back on some of the worse kidnappings in their own nation, you'll find that the Filippino government has paid huge ransoms in the past.

Which is why I do not have a hard time believing this article.

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