More freed in Agusan as captors seek exoneration

(UPDATED - 3:19 pm) Nine more people were released by hostage-takers in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on Friday, according to Chief Supt, Lino de Guzman Calingasan, head of the Philippine National Police in the Caraga Region. Forty-eight more people remain in the hands of about 15 armed men who are former members of the Citizens Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit. The hostage-takers led by a certain Danilo "Ondo" Perez had refused to free the rest of the captives until murder charges against the group are dropped. An Associated Press report quoted Agusan del Sur social welfare and development officer Josefina Bajade, who is negotiating for the release of the hostages, as saying the gunmen freed eight women and a man on Friday. Hours after Thursday's kidnapping, Bajade was able to convince the abductors to free the 17 schoolchildren and a woman who were among more than 70 initially held. [See: Hostage-takers release all 17 kids, but 57 still held in Agusan]
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV On Friday morning, three women were freed by Perez. Surprisingly, Perez allegedly released one of the women after she requested to return home, change her clothes and feed her animals. [See: 3 hostages released in Agusan del Sur; 54 still held captive] Calingasan said Perez's group was not demanding ransom, but was asking authorities to drop the charges slapped against them in connection with the murder of members of a rival clan led by another former militiaman, Joel Tubay. "Wala po silang hinihiling, wala pong demand kung di yung nasabi lang po kahapon na kung p'wede wag muna mag-conduct ng police, military operations at kung p'wede yung kanilang warrant of arrest ay huwag munang i-execute," Calingasan said in an interview over GMA News' Unang Hirit. (They don’t have any requests, no demands except what they said yesterday: to cease conducting police and military operations and to suspend their warrant of arrest, if possible.) Danilo's brother, Joebert Perez, told reporters Friday that the murder charges were fabricated. Joebert demanded the police to disarm the rival clan before the rest of the hostages are released, according to the Associate Press report. - Johanna Camille Sisante /JHU,TJD/ ARCS/GMANews.TV with an AP report