Gunmen release 42 remaining hostages in Agusan del Sur

(Updated 7:21 p.m.) The four-day hostage crisis in Agusan del Sur ended on a happy note Sunday after gunmen, who are members of a tribal group, released the more than 40 remaining hostages held in their jungle hide-out, a military official said. “We are happy to announce that all the hostages were freed unharmed. This is the result of a series of negotiations by the local crisis management committee," said Major Randolph Cabangbang, a regional military spokesman. Looking tired but relieved after four days in captivity, the mostly male hostages waved and smiled at journalists and army troops waiting at a nearby muddy village. All wore new white shirts given by government officials who fetched them. They will be taken to a hospital in Agusan del Sur's capital town of Prosperidad for a checkup prior to debriefing. Prior to the release, the leader of the hostage-takers, Danilo "Ondo" Perez, signed an agreement with government negotiators to free the hostages in exchange for a pledge that he and his men will not be arrested for past murder charges arising from a violent dispute with a rival clan over land, Vice Governor Santiago Cane of Agusan del Sur province said. Surrounded The remote jungle encampment had been surrounded by troops and snipers. Cane said the hostages left aboard two army trucks. The gunmen — former government-armed militiamen — then surrendered their assault rifles, grenades and ammunition. Senior Superintendent Nestor Fajura, operations chief of the Region 13 police, said police commander Chief Superintendent Lindo Calingasan and the rest of the negotiating team fetched the hostages. More than 70 people were taken from a village Thursday. Several children and women were earlier freed, but more than 40 were still held as of Sunday. The villagers were abducted by Perez and his cohorts after police attempted to arrest him on a murder charge. Government negotiators, invoking a law that protects the rights of ethnic groups, agreed to Perez's demand to have his case handled by a tribal court. Perez had also demanded the arrest of another tribe leader, Jun Tubay, whom he accused of killing his sisters and relatives last year. Both families are locked in a clan war.
The kidnappings were the latest in a series of security crises that have gripped Mindanao, including a jailbreak by Islamic militants Sunday on the island province of Basilan, and a massacre of 57 people, including 30 journalists, allegedly by members of a powerful clan and loyal militiamen in Maguindanao province. Militiamen The involvement of former and active militiamen in the hostage-taking and the Maguindanao massacre have sparked calls for the disbanding of paramilitary forces, which have been armed by the government to help in counter-insurgency assaults. The militias, drawn from the ranks of the unemployed, landless farmers, former rebels and ex-soldiers, have become notorious for abusing civilians, looting homes or ending up as private armies of political warlords. Armed Forces public information office chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the Philippine Army is now conducting a study on the rationale and purpose of the government militiamen following the Maguindanao massacre. “The rationale and purpose, including the administration of the [Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit], are now under review by the Philippine Army. We are determining if they are all functioning according to their mandate," said Brawner. There are about 55,000 to 58,000 militiamen throughout the country. Brawner said they would deactivate Cafgus if they are found to be functioning outside of their mandated tasks.- AP with Sophia Dedace and Al Jacinto/LBG/KBK, GMANews.TV