MANILA, Philippines – Negotiations with the group of Manobo tribesmen who took hostage 16 people in Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur province Friday will resume Monday morning, said the town’s Mayor Alvin Magdamit in a Radyo Inquirer interview.
Magdamit said that although negotiations previously bogged down and the hostage takers seemed to be ahead of the authorities, they were trying to “contain the situation, hindi naman pwedeng sila ang mag-dictate hanggang sa dulo (they cannot dictate what happens until the end).”
According to the mayor, they were having difficulties in bringing food and negotiating with the hostage takers because of the conditions they were asking for. He added that they could not make hasty decisions, “ang iniisip natin ay yung hostages (we are thinking of the hostages).”
“Hinihiling naming palayain na yung dalawang bata kasi sa pagkakaalam namin may sakit na yung isa (We were appealing to the abductors to release the two children after we learned that one of them was sick),” Magdamit told Radyo Inquirer.
Two of those abducted, Agusan del Sur school superintendent Hipolito Lastimado and teacher Diosdado Cabantac, were temporarily released to find food, water and medicine Sunday afternoon.
Around six Manobo tribesmen took hostage of the teachers and at least two school children, and demanded the release of jailed tribal leader Ondo Perez Friday in Prosperidad.
Authorities temporarily freed Perez Sunday to help with the negotiations. Perez and a negotiator came out empty-handed after a negotiation with the abductors Sunday evening.
For the full interview, listen to Radyo Inquirer, DZIQ 990 AM.