Communist rebels release 4 hostages

MAGPET, North Cotabato, Philippines—Communist rebels released here on Saturday four Bureau of Jail Management and Penology guards they had held in captivity for nearly two months.

Inspector Murphy Todyog, Jail Warden Erico Llamares, Special Jail Officer 2 Rogelio Begontes and Special Jail Officer 1 Rolando Bajoyo Jr., who were seized at a New People’s Army roadblock in Bukidnon in July,  were turned over by the Herminio Alfonso Command to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross at 2 p.m. in a village on the outskirts of Magpet.

The village was the same area that the rebels used in releasing Cpl. Delfin Sarocam and Pfc. Jason Valenzuela,  who were snatched in in separate incidents in Davao City earlier this year,  in May.

Government physician Mercy Hiso, who was at the release site, said the released captives were in good health, “except for Todyog, whose blood pressure rose.”