P-Noy to authorities: Follow rules in hostage negotiations

MANILA, Philippines - Wary of another backlash reminiscent of the bungled Aug. 23, 2010 hostage crisis, President Aquino yesterday reminded local authorities to strictly follow the rules of procedure in the negotiations for the release of the remaining 14 hostages in Agusan del Sur.

The hostage takers have already threatened to kill the remaining hostages after two of their “conditionally released” captives failed to return.

Aquino said Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Raul Bacalzo, along with several of his men, went to Prosperidad town to negotiate for the release of the teachers.

“They are on their way to Agusan to check on the situation, not to take over, but rather just to make sure that every item on the CMC (crisis management committee) is being implemented and followed,” Aquino told Palace reporters in a chance interview.

The PNP and the local crisis management committee are “on top of the situation,” he said.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said despite the presence of Bacalzo in the command center, the crisis is being treated locally since the demand of the hostage takers involved local matters, including the release of their jailed relative Ondo Perez, and a land dispute.

Ondo was the leader of the gunmen who held hostage some 76 persons in Sitio Maitum, Barangay San Martin, Agusan del Sur on Dec. 10, 2009.

Ondo and his group released the hostages after signing an agreement with the government that they will not be charged in court if they allow their hostages to go free.

They were also promised scholarships for their children and livelihood for Manobo tribesmen.

But instead of receiving the promises given to them, Ondo and his 15 companions were arrested after turning over their hostages.

The court released Perez yesterday, along with two others, to assist in the negotiations.

“We’d rather let the local crisis committee take charge, but we are closely monitoring the situation. We are confident of a peaceful resolution in the case. Our priority is the safety of the victims, including the two children,” said Undersecretary Abigail Valte, referring to the remaining victims who were held hostage by armed men last Friday.

“There is no timetable, but we’re hoping it will be resolved the soonest,” she said, adding that authorities had asked for proof of life when negotiations resumed yesterday.

“I don’t think we need to say this anymore, but the safety of the hostages should be the priority,” Valte said.

She said the local crisis management committee and town officials “hopefully can handle this without anything untoward happening to the victims.”

Earlier, the hostage-takers released Diosdado Cabantac and Hipolito Lastimado on condition that they would return and bring provisions of food, potable water and medicine.

However, tensions escalated after the gunmen expressed anger and disappointment at the decision of the local crisis committee not to allow the two conditionally released hostages to return.

In two separate text messages, Rey Brital and Kemkem Perez, leaders of the Manobo armed group, threatened to kill the remaining hostages if Cabantac and Lastimado do not return to their lair.

The crisis management committee headed by Prosperidad Mayor Alvin Magdamit decided not to allow the two to return to the hostage-takers, which worried Cabantac, who said that the kidnappers might harm his son who was still in the hands of the bandits.

Caraga PNP regional office Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations Senior Superintendent Nestor Monton Fajura said the crisis committee decided not to allow the two to return because they needed “immediate medical attention.” – With Ben Serrano, Evelyn Macairan, Rainier Allan Ronda