After five days of tense drama and tedious dealings, the hostage crisis in Agusan del Sur ended peacefully with the armed tribesmen abandoning their 12 remaining hostages in the jungles of Prosperidad town Wednesday morning, officials said Wednesday.

“We are happy to announce that at 6 o’clock this morning (Wednesday), all of the 12 hostages have been recovered and are already safe with us,” said Prosperidad Mayor Albin Magdamit, the head of the local Crisis Management Committee.

“All of the victims were found to be in good physical condition, except for some minor bruises and insect bites,” he added.

Director General Raul Bacalzo, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), attributed the peaceful resolution of the standoff to the capable handling of the crisis, which included the temporary release of the kidnappers’ detained leader Ondo Perez to help in the negotiation.

“The Crisis Management Committee had done its job properly,” said Bacalzo in a text message.

The remaining hostages who were rescued were identified as Department of Education (DepEd) district supervisor Narciso Oliveros; Apolonio Alibangbang, the head teacher of the La Purisima Elementary School; Filipino Quitay, teacher-in-charge of the Gacub Primary School; Arnol Quitoy; Joel Sausa, property custodian; Manuel Mordeno, teacher-in-charge of the New Maasin Elementary School; Mary Jane Bedrijo, volunteer pre-school teacher; teacher Allan Galdiano; Daldy Rodriguez; Rico Binambang, Galvan Vocales; and Shen-Shen Cabantac.

Magdamit said the 12 hostages were found abandoned in Sitio Balete, Barangay La Purisima, the area where the kidnappers and the victims were holed up since the kidnapping occurred at around 4 p.m. on April 1.

The 12 hostages were then escorted by local officials toward the CMC headquarters, located two kilometers away from where they were abandoned, and greeted by their families at 9 a.m. yesterday.

“All of the hostages were immediately given medical attention by our doctors and are undergoing stress debriefing with our psychologists and social workers to lessen the impact of their ordeal as captives and at the same time, help them to move on after this experience,” said Magdamit.

A total of 16 people were kidnapped but two of them were rescued while on their way to get food and medicine. A boy was released on Monday night while the 16th victim is not considered as a hostage since he was given free access by the kidnappers in the area.

But Madamit said there was no concession between the CMC and the kidnappers that led to the peaceful ending of the hostage drama.

Palace elated

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang, in a statement, said President Aquino is “happy” about the outcome, adding that the safety of the hostages

was the Chief Executive’s “paramount concern.”

“We are very pleased about the peaceful resolution of the hostage-taking at Agusan del Sur,” Carandang said in a statement.

“We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the peaceful outcome, most notably Governor Adolf Edward Plaza, Mayor Albin Magdamit, PNP Chief Raul Bacalzo, provincial social welfare officer

Josefina Bajade, and the local crisis management committee composed of the local PNP, the AFP, and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples,” he said.

“We would especially like to thank DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, who flew to Agusan on the instructions of the President to personally oversee the negotiations,” he added.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro expressed relief after the remaining Department of Education (DepEd) officials and teachers were abandoned.

Earlier, the kidnappers led by Ondo’s nephew, Kenken Perez, demanded his release and their 10 other relatives who are detained and charged in connection with the abduction of at least 79 people in the same town in 2009.

What the six kidnappers really want, Magdamit said, is for the implementation of equality in justice and that their clan be treated fairly in all the charges filed against them.

“The Perezes clarified that what they only wanted is for them to be treated fairly which were assured to them. We believe that with this assurance, along with the mounting pressure from our troops in the ground, the abductors were forced to leave their hostages,” said Magdamit.

Hunt on for 5 kidnappers

Magdamit said there was neither agreement that Ondo Perez and his relatives will be released nor a promise that the kidnappers will be spared from criminal charges in exchange for the solution of the crisis.

In fact, Magdamit said manhunt operations is now being conducted against the 17-year-old Kenken and four of his companions identified as Rey Joy Brital, Rolando Perez, Alejandro Navarro Brital, and Allan Perez. They are armed with an M16 rifle, an M14 rifle, a .45 pistol, a 30 caliber carbine rifle, and a shotgun.

“Our laws shall be wielded in a manner with which they shall be fully made accountable for their crime,” he added.

The local police said criminal charges will be filed against the six gunmen in connection with the kidnapping.

How it all started

Police and military background investigation revealed that both the kidnapping that occurred in 2009 and last week started when members of the Perez clan allegedly harassed and insulted a pregnant member of the Tubay clan at least three years ago.

It was learned that the Perez and the Tubay clans are relatives but have long petty grudges, particularly on the issue of land ownership.

“The incident caused the Tubays to resent vehemently and filed a complaint against them. Attempts to reconcile them were futile, and instead the Perez clan threatened to kill the Tubays if they will not withdraw their complaint filed at the Prosperidad Municipal Police Office,” the report read.

“Out of fear for his family, Joel Tubay who was the complainant, draw the first blood by killing four relatives of the Perez family on June 10, 2008. The Perez clan then vowed revenge and the group resorted to criminal activities, including robbery and extortion to be able to procure additional firearms for their planned revenge.”

“Then the killings in the area began when the Perez clan started killing members of the Tubay clan and the latter retaliated against the Perezes,” the report added.

The situation worsened in Prosperidad town and nearby areas when the armed members of the Perez clan, led by former militiaman Joebert “Ondo” Perez, allegedly resorted to banditry and extortion.

It was then that a string of criminal charges were slapped against Perez and his men. The police and the military started to run after them after security assessments revealed that they already posed threat to residents of Barangay La Purisima and nearby areas which they considered as hideout.

After being informed that a group of policemen and soldiers were sent to get him on December 10, 2009, Perez and his men held hostage a total of 79 local residents and used them as a bargain to force the government to withdraw all the charges filed against them.

The standoff, however, was resolved peacefully and the police filed additional case of kidnapping with serious illegal detention against Perez and his men who are currently detained at the Agusan del Sur Provincial Jail.

DepEd warning

Meanwhile, Luistro warned public officials that they were bent on closing public schools, particularly those located in remote areas, if the local government units (LGUs) cannot assure the safety of their teachers and students.

The warning was issued by Luisitro in the wake of the release of the remaining 12 captives in Agusan del Sur.

Aaorn Recuenco, Manila Bulletin