ACTRESS-TV host Kris Aquino yesterday confirmed the alleged plot by bandit group Abu Sayyaf to kidnap her and cited this as the reason for not renewing her contract with broadcast network ABS-CBN.
The plan to kidnap Kris and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was disclosed by President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday.
Kris requested that her statement be published verbatim.
“I was taken by surprise by the Malacañang statement. I wasn’t warned it would be made public. I had a 4 a.m. call time today for a TVC shoot and my sister Viel sent me the PDI front page.
“Honest truth, I was made aware of this plot late February, early March. My sisters tried to shield me because they didn’t want me to have more fear than necessary.
If you recall, my sons and I left in March to go abroad for three weeks. The health reasons I cited weren’t fabricated because the stress coming from the threat had caused my BP to constantly elevate to higher than 150/110.
“I didn’t renew with ABS-CBN because of this threat. That was a painful decision, but I needed to make that judgment call so as not to expose others to harm. It was that serious that I walked away from a new two-year contract for a job I’ve loved for 20 years. I informed my bosses the pertinent facts, but not full details from the intelligence reports, and they kept what I was allowed to relay to them under wraps. I was told to strictly keep the news contained and I obeyed. And I am grateful for the respect I was shown.”