DILG seeks 'compromises' to end hostage row in Agusan Sur

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is looking for “compromises" to end a hostage crisis in Agusan del Sur province as the standoff entered its fourth day Monday. Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said they are looking at other solutions as they cannot agree to the hostage-takers’ initial demand to release one of their colleagues from jail. "May hinihiling, tinitingnan natin paano maibibigay na sumusunod tayo sa ating batas. O kung hindi, ano ang maaring maging arrangement para maibsan ang reklamo (We will look at the hostage-takers’ demands and see how we can accommodate them without breaking the law. If their demands are not lawful, we will find other arrangements to address their grievances)," Robredo said in an interview on dzXL radio. He added they hope to resolve the case within Monday. Perez A group of armed men held at least 16 people in Prosperidad town hostage since Friday afternoon. Their demands included the release of former militiaman Ondo Perez from jail. Perez had been linked to a hostage incident in 2009. Robredo noted that as of Sunday, at least two of the 16 had been allowed to leave. But this early, he said said it is unlikely they will accommodate the demand of the hostage-takers to have Perez released from jail. "Wala ito sa kapangyarihan ng DILG, nasa korte ito. Pangalawa nag patung-patong ang kaso di lang isang kaso. Halimbawa gusto nila makalabas maliban sa kasong kidnapping may kasong murder, natandaan ko 3-4 kaso yan. Hindi pwedeng sabihin lang tapos na ang mga kaso, ganyan-ganyan na lang. Parati natin inaalahanan ang pangkalahatang mangyayari pagkatapos maresolbahan ang kaso," he said. (In the first place, Perez’s case is not within the DILG’s purview because the case is in court. Second, the other people they want released supposedly face various charges. We have to look at the bigger picture.)

Local management crisis On the other hand, Robredo said that while the DILG will give "guidance," it will still allow the local crisis management committee to handle the negotiations. "Binibigyan namin ng guidance pero ang aming pananaw mas nagkakilala sila mas madaling magusap ang negotiator na designated, yan din ang nag-negotiate the last time around, na-release ang 75 tao ," he said. (We are giving them guidance but we will leave it to the crisis management committee to work on the ground because they are more familiar with the situation. Besides, in 2009 they managed to secure the release of 75 hostages.) Hostage-takers' kin to negotiate Meanwhile, Prosperidad Mayor Alvin Magdamit said they are planning to tap relatives of the hostage-takers to help in the negotiations. "We’re still going with the negotiations. Ginagawa namin hinahanap namin ang immediate relatives ng baka makatulong sa pag-negotiate (We’re still going with the negotiations. We are looking for immediate relatives to help in the negotiations)," Magdamit said in an interview on dzBB radio. — RSJ, GMA News