Where's Loren?

There are four hostages being held somewhere in the jungles of Basilan right now. The bandits under Abu Sayyaf Leader Jundain has given negotiators until tomorrow to come up with a ransom or they'll kill the hostages. It's a tense situation, just like what happened to Ces Drilon. However, even if you look at the Inquirer or ABS-CBN websites, you'll see none of this news coming out.

Four lives are at stake. Four lives that probably do not mean anything to us, to politicians or to government. But they mean a whole lot to their families. And these families are Filipinos, lest we forget.

Media is not covering them. Government is ignoring the hostage situation. We have'nt heard anything from the military. Even the local government officials of Basilan are not raising the funds or shoring up close contact supporters.

And we are NOT hearing anything from Senator Loren Legarda, the supposed heroine in the release of Ces Drilon (who, by the way, has been suspended for 3 months by ABS-CBN news and public affairs).

Where's Loren?

I just saw some photos of Loren published in the papers with some tycoons and surprise, surprise...Senator Cheez Escudero. Their tandem is being introduced to the public as the "winnable team". I hate to say this, given the fact that Loren is one of my friends, but if she wants to redeem herself, now is the time to do it.

I don't want people thinking nor even saying something as "Loren just did that thing with Ces because Ces happens to be a high-profile victim. And those workers from the Basilan Electric Cooperative are just plain, old, simple folks, not worth the publicity."

When small people are killed, abducted or blown to bits by these terrorists, we hear no whimper. Or, if we do, like what happened in the Sulpicio Lines sea disaster, the noise last for up to two weeks. Then, its gone. When big people are killed, abducted or blown to bits, the news takes a drastic change and it takes a month to about 3 months before everything settles down.

Loren, you may not get the same kind of publicity compared with what you get from that Drilon episode. This one, at least be consistent. Since you positioned yourself as a hostage negotiator, try to do this also to your fellow Filipinos being held by psychotic elements there in Basilan. Don't be choosy. Sayang din, it's 4 votes din.