How Bin Laden affected Maria Ressa, Ces Drilon

MANILA, Philippines – 10 Days, 10 Years: From Bin Laden to Facebook – that’s the title of Maria Ressa’s latest book which uses social network theory to track the spread of terrorism. 

Ayee Macaraig reports.

It’s a reunion but not the typical kind. ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon and cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderrama get together again.

They gather for the launch of a book about their ordeal in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu 4 years ago.
10 Day, 10 Years: From Bin Laden to Facebook tells the gripping tale of the kidnapping, and how a crisis team led by the author Maria Ressa helped win their freedom.

At the book launch Friday, Ressa and Drilon remember their 10 days of hell. 

CES DRILON

ABS-CBN REPORTER/ANCHOR

I called Maria from a mountain in Sulu, a hard and heavy lump in the pit of my belly. My voice trying to be calm, disguising the panic and regret rushing through my bloodstream and told her, “Maria, we’ve been kidnapped.”

MARIA RESSA

AUTHOR, “BIN LADEN TO FACEBOOK” 

It’s a very emotional topic, this one. It was cathartic to write the book, even more so to actually place it in a global context.

Bin Laden to Facebook situates the kidnapping against the 10 years between 9/11 and Osama bin Laden’s death.

CNN’s former Jakarta bureau chief traces the spread of terrorism worldwide and on the world wide web. She tracks the real and virtual connections of Filipino and foreign terrorists.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas says the book is timely with the signing of the Framework Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Yet Thomas warns, the challenges to peace are daunting.

HARRY THOMAS

US AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES 

Until the social inequities end, you will periodically have people rebelling against what they see as an injustice. We have to commend President Aquino, Prime Minister Najib and others who work closely on this.

Ressa’s book aims to help officials and journalists identify the problems and map out solutions. After all, she says terrorism is not just an academic topic.

At the book launch, it’s clear how bin Laden affected her and the reunited team.

AYEE MACARAIG

REPORTING 

10 days, 10 years. With Internet and social media, much has changed since 9/11 and the kidnapping of the ABS-CBN news team. Ressa hopes her book offered key lessons that will serve as weapons in fighting terrorism in its new battleground.

Ayee Macaraig, Rappler. – Rappler.com