Communist party orders release of mayor held hostage by rebels

INQUIRER file photo of Mayor Henry Dano of Lingig, Surigao del Sur

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Communist Party of the Philippines has ordered the release of Mayor Henry Dano of Lingig, Surigao del Sur, but was silent on the fate of his two Army escorts.

Dano and his escorts, Corporal Alrey Desamparado and Private First Class Allan Saban, were seized by New People’s Army rebels from the mayor’s house in Lingig on August 6.

Luis Jalandoni, chief of the National Democratic Front’s negotiating panel in peace talks with the government, also announced the impending release of four Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel seized by the rebels in Bukidnon in July.

Mel Rivera, CPP regional committee spokesperson in Southern Mindanao, said Friday that the order for Dano’s release was based on “a political decision to suspend Dano’s trial for his crimes.”

Rivera said Dano had apologized for his “crimes”, which the rebels claimed included the murder of Eduardo “Tacder” Toyogon, a Lingig peasant leader, late last year.

Rubi del Mundo, NDF spokesperson for Southern Mindanao, said Dano was also being accused of organizing a private armed group that harassing people opposed to mining operations in Lingig.

“The CPP also gave weight to the appeal of Dano’s family and other groups and individuals,” Rivera said in an emailed statement.

Rivera said the mayor was given a chance to correct his mistakes.

But he said the NPA would closely watch Dano’s activities and would seize him again if he commits “fresh crimes.”

“If he continues to commit crimes and violations, he will be arrested again and will be subjected to the judicial process of the revolutionary movement,” Rivera said.

Rivera said the NPA’s Merardo Arce Command, which has been holding Dano, would decide on the appropriate date for his release.

“His safety and that of the custodial unit will be the prime consideration during the actual release,” he said.

BJMP guards Murphy Todyog,  Erico Llamares, Rogelio Begontes and  Rolando Bajoyo Jr., who were seized in Bukidnon while transporting prisoners to Davao del Norte on July 21, will also be released soon, Jalandoni said in a video sent to the group Sowing the Seeds of Peace in Mindanao this week.

Jalandoni said the NDF was only asking for a formal declaration of suspension of military operations in some Mindanao areas before the captives are released.

“We require that the SOMO [suspension of military operations] and SOPO [suspension of police operations] allow the necessary, reasonable and flexible scale of time and area for the safe and orderly release of the captives,” Jalandoni said.

Meanwhile, in Cagayan de Oro City, the head of the archdiocese’s Commission on Social Action, urged the NPA to release six mat vendors they rebels were believed to be holding captive.

The mat peddlers – James Mabaylan, Ronald Boiles, Ernesto Callo, Jr., Nelson Bagares, Segundino Daila, Jr., and Julieto Sarsaba – were reportedly seized by the NPA for conducting surveillance activities in Davao City’s Paquibato district on August 17.

Father Nathan Lerio, director of the CSA, admitted that the archdiocese has not received official confirmation from the rebels regarding the detention of the six peddlers but their families believed they were being held captive by the NPA.

Mithie Callo, wife of Ernesto Callo Jr., said her husband was never a military spy and that selling mats was his only source of income.

“It has been two months since he disappeared and we’re having difficulty surviving. Our children have been forced to quit their studies because we do not have money,” Mithie said.