ZAMBOANGA CITY: Gunmen freed before midnight yesterday a television reporter and two others they abducted nine days ago in the hinterlands of Sulu province.

The hostages, Ces Drilon and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., and university professor Octavio Dinampo were freed to government emissaries in Sulu’s hinterlands.

Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon confirmed that the hostages were released at around 11 p.m. yesterday.

“They were picked up by Jun Isnaji and secured by four policemen at Sitio Danasi, lower Sinumaan, Talipao, Sulo and brought to the house of Mayor Alvarez Isnaji,” Razon related in a text message.

Razon however said he had no idea Sen. Loren Legarda was part of the negotiations.

“Ces is free. She is resting. Soon, she will be in the hands of her family,” Legarda, who claimed she also negotiated for the release of the hostages, told DZMM radio.

Legarda said the refusal of the victims’ families to pay ransom, and an imminent military operation, were the breakthrough that led to the release.

It was unknown if government negotiators paid ransom or not, but the kidnappers had demanded P15 million in exchange for the lives of the three hostages.

The Abu Sayyaf last week freed Drilon’s cameraman Angelo Valderama after negotiators reportedly paid P5 million.

Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji negotiated for the safe release of all the victims.

He said he only paid several hundreds of thousands of pesos as Valderama’s “board and lodging” fee, but he confirmed the Abu Sayyaf ransom demand.

Isnaji earlier said the family of Drilon is negotiating directly with the Abu Sayyaf and even promised to pay ransom to the kidnappers.

Drilon’s family denied the accusations.

Isnaji had threatened to quit as negotiator if the victims’ families continue to talk directly with the Abu Sayyaf for the safe release of the hostages.

Local sources said other negotiators from Manila have made contacts with the Abu Sayyaf and discussed the payment of ransom.

The sources said once the ransom is paid, the kidnappers would make it appear that they freed the hostages in exchange for government livelihood projects.

Drilon’s group was seized June 8 in the town of Maimbung while on their way to meet with an Abu Sayyaf terror leader Radulan Sahiron, whose group is believed to be holding the hostages.

Aside from Sahiron, military and police also tagged Albader Parad, Gafur Jumdail and Umbra Jumdail as involved in the kidnappings along with two others Walid alias Tuan Walis and Sulayman Patta.

Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, the head of the local crisis management committee, appealed to negotiators not to pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf because the money is likely to be used to buy weapons or finance terrorism that will lead to more kidnappings.

The United States listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign terrorist organization and has offered rewards of up to $5 million for the capture of its known leaders.

US troops have been deployed in Sulu province since 2006 and are assisting Philippine forces in its campaign against the Abu Sayyaf.