NPA now wants a prisoner swap —Rodrigo Duterte

DAVAO CITY, Philippines —Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said his attempt to negotiate with the New People’s Army for the release of four jail personnel it was holding failed because the rebels were now demanding that the hostages be swapped with political prisoners still in government hands.

Duterte had earlier promised the wives of the four jail personnel that their husbands would be released soon.

“I already arranged for their (the wives’) stay in a hotel, thinking we could negotiate for their release, but they added some demands that I could not give,” Duterte said Tuesday in a weekly television program, “Ato ni Bay.”

“They demanded a swap between their captives and the political prisoners,” Duterte said.

“It’s something beyond my authority to grant,” he said, adding that what the NPA asked should first be discussed by both panels in the peace talks.

He said he will keep his hands off any other negotiations with the NPA but will concentrate instead on his capacity as the NDF resource person in the ongoing peace talks with the government.

He said he did not want the military to suspect he was helping the NPA’s war strategy.

“I will no longer entertain matters concerning the NPA,” he said.

Held captives are Jail Inspector Murphy Todyog, Jail Warden Erico Llamares; Special Jail Officer 2 Rogelio Begontes and Jail Officer 1 Rolando Bajoyo Jr., who were transporting prisoners from Ozamiz City to Davao City when blocked by NPA rebels in Bukidnon on July 12.