UNYPAD STATEMENT on the Abduction of Professor Dinampo

AN APPEAL FOR THE IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF PROFESSOR OCTAVIO DINAMPO, CES DRILON AND THEIR COMPANIONS

Kidnapping, for whatever purpose and by whatever group, is against the law, be it human or divine.

It is on this premise that we, officers, members and staff of the United Youth for Peace and Development, Inc. (UNYPAD), a non-government organization and a nation-wide youth organization based in Cotabato City, South of the Philippines, condemns in the strongest terms humanly possible, the abduction of Professor Octavio Dinampo, Ces Drilon and her crew in Barangay Kulasi, Maimbung, Sulu, last Sunday.

Professor Dinampo, of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Jolo, Sulu, is a renowned peace advocate. He is the chair of the Mindanao People¢s Caucus (MPC), of which the UNYPAD is a network-member.

Whoever and wherever the abductors are, we strongly appeal to them to immediately release, without any pre-condition, Professor Dinampo, Ces Drilon, a well-known broadcast journalist, and their companions.

To the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other concerned law enforcement agencies to exercise due prudence in any rescue effort that the lives of the victims may not be exposed to danger.

Likewise, we call upon our fellow Mindanaoans to help exert efforts, through whatever legal means, for the immediate and unconditional release of kidnap victims even as we believe that things of this sort is an affront to every peace-loving citizens like us.

Finally, to the families of the victims, we say that we are one with you in praying and doing the utmost we can, humble it may be, so that the victims may be freed soon and without any pre-condition.