ABS-CBN star reporter Ces Drilon was freed "past 11 p.m. last night," according to the Philippine Star ("a few minutes past midnight," reported GMANews.tv, and "around 11 p.m.," wrote the Inquirer). More than 12 hours ago.
I checked the websites of Metro Manila's dailies:
The majority did not carry the story.
- Abante - Plus 24 hours kay Ces, 2 pa
- BusinessMirror - Drilon seen freed soon
- BusinessWorld - Soldiers, police brace for hostage action
- Daily Tribune - Deadline ends; kidnapers want P15M today for Ces' freedom
- Malaya - Ces freed soon: PNP
- Manila Bulletin - (None on the subject. Instead they ran 'Kobe aims to make history.' The Celtics had won about an hour ago. I checked again at 16:40. The home page noted Boston's win. Still no word about Ces.)
- Manila Standard Today - Ces Drilon to be released
- Manila Times - Abductors extend deadline
- Inquirer - Ces Drilon, companions freed (the fourth updated was posted 00:02 about an hour after the event, as reported by the Inquirer. Various updates followed.)
- GMANews.tv - Suspected Abu bandits free TV reporter, 2 others in Sulu (00:08. Various updates followed.)
- Philippine Star - Ces, 2 others freed (no time stamp; reader feedback as early as 00:10)
- Abante Tonite - Ces Drilon laya na! (01:30)
- Journal - Ces Drilon at 2 kasama pinakawalan na ng Abu Sayyaf (10:19. Four updates followed.)
Photo: gmanews.tv, inquirer.net
