NPAs to set captives free if troops leave Agusan del Sur barangays

COTABATO CITY, Philippines--- Communist rebels in Loreto, Agusan del Sur are ready to set their five captives free in exchange for the military’s pull out from 11 barangays in the municipality.

The captives --- Lito Nadalique, chairman of Barangay Mansanitas in Loreto, and his three constituent-barangay councilors, Marvin Bantuasan, Crisanto Piodos, and Balaba Andalique, and a militiaman named Pepe Subla --- were abducted by New People’s Army guerrillas last October 24 in a farming district in the same town.

Rubi del Mundo, speaking on behalf of the Southern Mindanao Group of the National Democratic Front, said they will set the captives free if the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion will leave the adjoining Barangays Binucayan, Balite, Pangkat, Johnson, Sta. Theresa, San Mariano, Kauswagan,  Sabud, Kasapa 1, and Kasapa 2, all in Loreto town.

Del Mundo, in a statement emailed to different media outfits in Central Mindanao, said guerrillas snatched the five men as a "penalty"  for their involvement in the government’s counter-insurgency operations in Loreto.

“They have apologized for their wrongdoings,” Del Mundo said.

Del Mundo said they are ready to release the captives if the 26th IB agrees to reposition away from the 11 barangays.