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Manobo datu blames Agusan hostage-taking on 'broken promises'
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur – Datu Bagtikan Roy Gallego, a chieftain of the Manobo tribe, has berated top government, military and police officials for reneging on an alleged promise to drop the 2009 kidnapping charges against Joebert “Ondo" Perez and 13 others, saying that he was made to look like a fool because he was instrumental in inking the deal. Bagtikan’s statement came in the wake of the recent hostage-taking incident in Prosperidad town, Agusan del Sur province, which was allegedly perpetrated by followers of Perez to demand his release from jail, where he continues to face the said 2009 kidnapping charges. (See: Agusan hostage crisis ends without casualties on 6th day) When the Perez group took 75 hostages in the same area of Agusan del Sur on December 10, 2009, Bagtikan said he was tapped by Agusan del Sur vice governor Santiago Cane to lead in the hostage negotiations. The 2009 hostage-taking incident, which lasted for three days, was eventually resolved when the Perez group released the hostages batch by batch. Bagtikan said he was lauded for helping in the negotiations, and given a Certificate of Commendation by Agusan del Sur governor Maria Valentina Plaza dated December 17, 2009. (See: Gunmen release 42 remaining hostages in Agusan del Sur) Bagtikan, who is also called “Supreme Datu" in some news reports, has repeatedly lambasted government, military and police officials—and even a priest—on his DXSF radio program, lashing out at them for reneging on alleged promises made to Perez. Bristling at being made the patsy, Bagtikan spoke out, “Is that the Philippine government’s policy of negotiating hostage crisis situations? Making foolishness out of that very dangerous situation endangering the lives of 75 people at that time? They say they can't do [anything] and that the agreement was not legal. Then why do the illegal? And [why] fool me eventually by requesting me to come into the picture to negotiate?" the angry datu told reporters of both GMA News Online and Radio DXSF. "They cannot see us eye to eye because they knew they fooled not only me but the entire indigenous people, hindi sila umiimik tuwing kinokompronta ko sila. [They couldn’t reply whenever I confronted them.] I signed as witness and even lead the negotiations solely on basis of trust and confidence to these people yet what they did to us is horrible," he elaborated. Bagtikan revealed that the December 2009 hostage crisis gave him bitter lessons he will bear the rest of his life, saying, “… until now I cannot look eye to eye with the Perez clan because it seems that I was being used unknowingly…" In an agreement rendered in the Cebuano language and dated December 13, 2009, the Provincial Crisis Management Committee headed by Maria Valentina G. Plaza guaranteed three things in exchange for the release of their 75 hostages:
- exoneration of all charges against Perez and 14 of his companions;
- assistance to the Manobo tribes and the families of Perez and his companions; and
- scholarship and livelihood programs for all of Perez’ children.
- then governor (now congresswoman) Maria Valentina G. Plaza;
- Police Senior Superintendent Antonio Paguirigan;
- vice governor Santiago Cane Jr;
- Provincial Social Welfare Officer Josefina Bajade;
- National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Caraga regional director Jose Jake Dumagan;
- PCL president Frederick Mark Mellana; and
- Roman Catholic priest and Caraga Conference for Peace and Development representative Lito Clase.
