16 teachers, students held hostage in Agusan Sur

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines—(UPDATE 4) Demanding the release of a tribal leader being held for a similar offense, a group of gunmen have been holding hostage since Friday 16, not 14 as reported, teachers and students on the outskirts of Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur, officials said Saturday.

Chief Inspector Nelly Villagarcia, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police’s Caraga regional office, said the gunmen, led by Ilad Perez, grabbed the hostages after attending graduation ceremonies at a primary school in Barangay (village) Purisima around 4 p.m. Friday.

She identified 14 of the hostages as Agusan del Sur Division Superintendent Hipolito Lastimado, District Supervisor Narciso Oliveros, school principal Apolonio Alibangbang, and teachers Joel Sausa, Manuel Mordeno, Filipina Quitoy, Allan Gallano, Mary Jean Bedrijo, Arnold Quitoy, Pido Dolorito, Gerlie Monticalbo, Maricel Lagnazon, Diosdado Cabantac and Shen-shen Cabagtag.

The last 11 names were those of teachers and students but could not say which ones were pupils or teachers.

The two other hostages were habal-habal (motorcycle used to ferry passengers) whose names were not available, she said.

Agence France-Presse has reported that 16 teachers and students were kidnapped by a former communist insurgent Reyjoy Brital, who threatened to kill the captives if a rescue attempt was launched.

The Associated Press also reported, citing Senior Inspector Joel Solon Mendez of the provincial police, that there were 16 captives being held including two children aged 10 and 13.

Villagarcia said Perez was a relative of tribal leader Ondo Perez, who is being held for a similar incident in 2009 when his group held hostage 75 people in the same municipality. That incident was triggered by a land dispute between Ondo’s group and another tribal group.

Government negotiators had promised not to arrest Ondo if he would free his hostages but police seized him once they were released, according to the AFP report.

Villagarcia said one of the demands of the hostage-takers was the release of Ondo from jail.

A crisis committee has been formed to work for the release of the hostages, she said.

On Saturday, the gunmen threatened to kill the hostages following radio reports that the authorities were poised to attack them, Villagarcia said.

She said because of this, a gag order had been issued to officers in the field to prevent the situation from getting worse.

She said the gunmen were obviously monitoring government pronouncements and reports from radio stations.

Villagarcia also appealed to the media to be discerning in their reportage and airing of interviews because it could put the hostages’ life in danger.

She assured the families of the captives that no rescue mission would be launched so as not to endanger their lives.

Villagarcia said policemen were on standby only and were letting negotiators do their work.