Tribal leader released less than 24 hours after he was abducted

From the Manila Bulletin (Oct 1): Tribal leader released less than 24 hours after he was abducted

After less than 24 hours in captivity, a tribal leader was released Friday night in good physical condition by his abductors somewhere in San Roque area, San Miguel town, Surigao del Sur, a police official reported on Sunday.

In a flash report on Sunday to Chief Supt. Rolando B. Felix, regional director of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13), San Miguel Municipal Police Station (MPS) chief of police Sr. Insp. Florence D. Murao said Datu Saturnino Gallego of the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) was released by his abductors at 9:30 p.m. on Friday.

However, the motive of the abduction and reason for the release of the IPMR tribe leader remain unknown.

“We are still investigating it,” Murao said.

Gallego is active in the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur, and has been helping the government with its peace and development program.

He was taken from his residence at 10 p.m. on Thursday by about 20 heavily armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Sitio Hayon, Barangay Libas Sud, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, Capt. Francisco P. Garello Jr., Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of the 36th Infantry (Valor) Battalion (36th IB), said.

The 36th IB CMO officer said Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (CAA) member Danny Rivas, was also abducted with Gallego.

http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/10/01/tribal-leader-released-less-than-24-hours-after-he-was-abducted/