Kris: Abu kidnap plot reason for not renewing ABS-CBN contract

By: Marinel Cruz - 9 years ago

Kris Aquino. INSTAGRAM PHOTO

Actress-TV host Kris Aquino on Thursday 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.

READ: Aquino: Abu Sayyaf also plotted to kidnap Pacquiao, Kris

Kris requested that her statement be published verbatim.

“Marinel- 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.

“And to their credit, everybody closest to me – both coworkers, relatives and friends – kept quiet to protect me and because they knew this was a matter to be taken seriously with utmost precaution.

“We left Palm Sunday and returned for my endorsement work commitments second week of April. You can check my IG (Instagram) feed from March onwards – there have been very few location specific posts, and since our return, the two boys (her sons Josh and Bimby) and I have been living with PNoy.

“If you’ll use this text – I hope I am quoted verbatim. I read and re-read my text to you four times to make sure I didn’t reveal more than what I have knowledge of and what is safe to share.”