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Agusan hostage crisis ends without casualties on 6th day


(Updated 12:20 p.m.) The hostage crisis in Agusan del Sur province in Mindanao finally came to an end Wednesday morning as police said the hostage-takers "abandoned" their captives. Agusan del Sur police chief Senior Superintendent Jerome Baxinella led a police team in fetching the hostages and bringing them to safety. Live video on News To Go Wednesday morning showed the hostages being led into a private home accompanied by provincial and national officials. "Nasa kamay na namin ang mga hostages, dinadala na namin sila pababa (The hostages are with us. We are bringing them to safe ground)," Baxinella said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the hostages appeared to be well, but did not give further information on what led to their freedom. "Inabandona sila and we had to rescue them (They were abandoned and we had to rescue them)," he said.
Meanwhile, Malacañang expressed pleasure over the peaceful resolution of the hostage crisis, with presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ricky Carandang saying that “throughout the ordeal, the safety of the victims was President Benigno Aquino III's paramount concern." 13 hostages Meanwhile, Prosperidad Mayor Albin Magdamit said 13 hostages were recovered from the site where the armed tribesmen left them. Magdamit identified the freed hostages, mostly local education officials and teachers, as: Narciso Oliveros, Apolonio Alibangbang, Joel Sausa, Manuel Mordano, Felipina Quitoy, Allan Gallano, Mary Jane Bedrijo, Arnold Quitoy, Pido Dolorito, Girlie Monticalbo, Maricel Lagnazon and a 10-year-old boy. The thirteenth captive, Diosdado Cabantac, was freed by the tribesmen last Sunday, but went back in a bid to offer himself as hostage in exchange of his 10-year-son. [See: 2 of 16 Agusan hostages freed to get food] All of the freed hostages were "in good physical condition aside from minor insect bites" and were subjected to medical exams and debriefing upon their release, according to Magdamit. The local official added that the assurance of "fair treatment" given by the crisis management committee to the hostage-takers may have contributed to their decision to abandon the captives. "This is a result of a dialogue… They [the hostage-takers] clarified their demand was for them to be treated fairly… We believe these assurances forced the abductors to leave the hostages," he said at a press briefing. Ondo Perez Last April 1, a group of armed men abducted at least 15 people in Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur, and demanded the release of a former militiaman, Ondo Perez. In 2009, Ondo and his group took hostage 75 people, including children at the Maitum Elementary School in Sitio Maitum in San Martin village, also in Prosperidad town. Ondo and his men, at that time, fled to the school and took people hostage to evade arrest from pursuing policemen. The pursuit stemmed from from their alleged participation in the massacre of relatives of a certain Jun Tubay in February 2009. Ondo and his companions landed in jail after the hostage incident. Meanwhile, Police identified the five hostage-takers in last Friday's incident as Ken-Ken Perez; Rejoy Brital, leader of the group; Rolando Perez; Alejandro Navarro Brital; and Allan Perez. Ken-Ken is the nephew of Ondo, who faces charges for a hostage-taking incident in 2009. Friday's he hostage-takers were armed with M16 and M14 rifles, caliber-.45 pistol, a 30-caliber carbine rifle, and a shotgun, the police said. On Sunday, two hostages were freed to get food for the other victims. A third victim, a male teenager, was released Monday, and finally on Wednesday "abandoned" the rest of the hostages. Pursuit operation Now that all the hostages have been released, authorities have launched a manhunt for their hostage-takers. Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo disclosed this on Wednesday, even as he said that no ransom was paid for the hostages' freedom. "Hindi ito humihingi ng ransom at hindi humihingi ng board and lodging (The hostage-takers never asked for ransom or for board and lodging)," Robredo said in an interview on dzBB radio. Citing initial reports, Robredo said the hostages were released around 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, and were expected to reach the provincial capitol after 9:00 a.m. "Ang report sa akin tutugisin yan (pero) ang importante asikasuhin ang hostages. Ang pagtugis can be done immediately after (Reports reaching me said the hostage-takers will be hunted down but our priority now is the safety of the hostages)," he said. — with Andreo Calonzo/LBG/HS/RSJ, GMA News
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