On Friday afternoon April 1, 2011after the graduation ceremony in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Philippines a group of armed men seized Thirteen teachers and 2-elementary students, the 2 students were aged 10 and 12-year-old. Two of the teachers were later freed by the gunmen.
The armed men were suspected to be members of Reggie “Ken-ken” Perez’ group, on Monday the 12-year-old boy was set free because the boy was ill. Still, there are 12 people left and one of them is the 10-year-old kid, they are still under the hostage-takers.
According to ABS-CBN News CARAGA, Marvin Jay Corvera was freed at around 7 pm.
Corvera is now safe at the house of the Prosperidad ‘Mayor Alvin Magdamit’, the boy is undergoing some treatments.
The negotiation between the government and the hostage-takers are still continuous to set the hostages free, and ensure their lives especially the remaining child.
Mayor Magdamit talked to one of the hostages through phone, and the hostage said that all of them were alive.
The group is demanding for the freedom of their group-leader ‘Ondo Perez’ together with his 3-tribesmen, who are convicted at Agusan del Sur provincial jail due to of illegal possession of firearms, kidnapping and he is connected with the hostage-taking of 47 villagers on December 2009.
‘Ondo Perez’ failed to convince his people to surrender. Earlier on Monday the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) appointed a new negotiator, the father of one of the hostage taker, to negotiate with the group of Perez,
According to Magdamit they had given Perez a temporary custody but then the negotiation between the hostage-takers didn’t work. Due to the location of the kidnappers, there were communication difficulties.
Chief Raul Bacalzo of Philippine National Police is still encouraging them to keep on negotiating so that the situation will be resolved in a peaceful way.
Magdamit is looking forward that the second negotiator can help in the development of the situation.