Gunmen seize 75 hostages, mostly students, in Agusan

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur , Philippines  – A group of 15 Manobo tribal warriors abducted yesterday morning 75 people, including school children and teachers, at Sitio Maitum-Maasim in Barangay San Martin, according to provincial police.

Agusan del Sur provincial police said the group, armed with M-14 and M-16 rifles and indigenous weapons, seized four teachers, an undetermined number of students and civilians, and the school principal of the New Maasim Elementary School right after the flag ceremony as they were about to start their morning classes.

The group also kidnapped two foresters of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) visiting wood firm Casilayan Softwood and Development Corp.

Agusan police have filed kidnapping charges against the suspects.

They said, however, that the tribe did not express intent to harm or kill the hostages.

Police said the Manobo warriors claimed the government delayed justice for the alleged murder of tribal chief Datu Ondo Perez and three Manobo tribesmen by a certain Joel Cubay. The killings allegedly stemmed from a clan war over access to logging areas.

Sources from the tribe said they have repeatedly asked for assistance from the government, particularly from the National Commission on Indigenous People’s Commission, but did not receive any response. The abductors demanded Cubay’s surrender as well as interviews by television newsmen.

Agusan del Sur Gov. Maria Valentina Plaza dispatched Provincial Social Welfare officer Josefina Bajade to negotiate for the safe release of the victims.

As of press time, 17 students and an adult had been released to Bajade while two teachers who escaped from captivity are now under police protection.

The abductors also demanded food, clothing, medicine, blankets and potable water. 

Last month, eight DENR workers in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur were abducted by an armed indigenous group at a checkpoint in Barangay Anticala, Butuan City but were released after three days in captivity. The abductors demanded access to logs in the area. 

Agusan del Sur Vice Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. said the abductors were bandits.

He said a day before the group entered the isolated hamlet of San Martin, police had chased them away from a nearby village.

Eastern Mindanao (Eastmincom) commander and Maguindanao martial law administrator Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer said the abductors are believed to be members of the Perez Group, an organized crime group operating in the area.

He said the group used the hostages as human shields to prevent police from arresting them for multiple murder and robbery charges.

Meanwhile, Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has instructed the DepEd division in Agusan del Sur to assess the situation.

“We are very frustrated. Our school children, our school, our teachers should be spared from violence and criminal activities.” Lapus said. – With Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rainier Allan Ronda, AP