The
village councilman who was abducted and held for more than a week by rebel
armed group was released 6:00 p.m. Wednesday at a remote village of Loreto town
in Agusan del Sur, as confirmed by military, tribal chiefs and the municipal
crisis management committee head.
The
release of village councilman Edgar Bantuasan was confirmed by both Maj. Judith
B. Loayon, Civil Military Operations officer of the 401st Brigade, Philippine
Army and Tribal chief Marcos Gonzales,(Datu Makahinlo Gubat) one of the tribal
chieftains who had helped in the negotiations for his release. Datu Gubat said
Bantuasan is now with his family at Brgy. Sta. Teresa in Loreto town, but he
will be brought for medical check -up or treatment at a local hospital here in
the city as instructed by Loreto Mayor Dario Otaza.
In
a local radio interview Thursday morning, Mayor Dario Otaza also confirmed
Bantuasan’s release last night. Otaza said on the same interview that there was
no payment made whatsoever as far as the crisis management committee is
concerned in connection of the victim’s release.
Tribal
chieftain Gonzales said that there were about 20 tribal chieftains from their
area who had helped in the negotiations in Bantuasan’s successful release at
Brgy. Johnson, Loreto in Agusan del Sur Wednesday evening.
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