The remaining 13 hostages in Agusan del Sur, Philippines were finally released by armed tribesmen 6 a.m. Wednesday as announced by Prosperidad Mayor Albin Magdamit in a press conference.
The captives were said to be abandoned by the Manobo gunmen in an upland forest area outside the village of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
It was reported that 16 hostages which included teachers and elementary students were held captives by the tribesmen last Friday afternoon.
Hostages were reported to be unharmed. The following freed hostages were as follows: Narciso Oliveros, District Supervisor of Department of Education-CARAGA; Apolono Alibangbang, Head Teacher of La Purisima Elementary School; property custodian Joel Sausa, teachers Manuel Mordano, Felipina Quitoy, Allan Gallano, Mary Jane Bedrijo, Arnold Quitoy, Pido Dolorito, Girlie Monticalbo, Marical Lagnazon, and Diosdado and Shen-shen Cabagtac.
Mayor Magdamit made a clarification that the 13th captive whose name was Diosdado was freed earlier by the tribesmen. In exchange for his son Shen-shen, reports said that Diosdado have returned offering himself to become their hostage.
Magdamit added that the hostages were freed after a jailed tribal leader Jobert “Ondo” Perez convinced the Manobo gunmen to grant their release. An (–foul word(s) removed–)urance of having a fair treatment to the hostage-takers became the factor to pursue the end of the hostage crisis.
Jesse Robredo, Secretary for the Department of Interior and Local Government said that the hostage-takers were identified to be minors. Ongoing operations are held so they will eventually be facing charges. Robredo also (–foul word(s) removed–)ures on Tuesday that Ondo Perez will be treated fairly in the said case.
Security is now being tightened to areas known to be prone to kidnapping events. The Philippine government continues to hold campaigns against kidnapping stressing the Mindanao areas.