Suspect in 2011 hostage-taking incident in Agusan nabbed

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - Police have arrested a suspect in the 2011 hostage-taking of over a dozen teachers and students in the southern Philippines, the local police said today.

Superintendent Martin Gamba, spokesperson for the police office of the Southern Philippine region of Caraga, said the suspect, identified as Allan Brital Perez, was apprehended by police at Poblacion village, Prosperidad town, in Mindanao's Agusan del Sur Province past 1 p.m. Thursday.

The 45-year old Perez is tagged as one of the leaders of some 20 tribal gunmen who swooped down on a village primary school in Prosperidad town, Agusan del Sur, in April 2011 and kidnapped more than ten teachers and schoolchildren in a crisis that stemmed from a dispute with a rival tribal clan, said Gamba.

The hostages were freed after days of negotiations, with many of the suspects pardoned.

Gamba said Perez's arrest was due to a robbery case related to the hostage-taking incident.