PNP, local officials get awards for peaceful handling of Agusan hostage-taking crisis

by Ben Serrano

     April 25, 2011

             Camp Rafael Rodriguez, LIBERTAD, BUTUAN CITY (PNA) - A total of twenty two police officials in Caraga region, a governor, municipal mayor, Roman Catholic priest and a social welfare provincial officer received award for peaceful handling that resulted to non-violent ending and eventual released of all hostages in the April 1, 2011 hostage taking incident.

          Last April 1, 2011 about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, young but armed with high-powered firearms Manobo tribesmen belonging to the group of rebel returnees and former CAFGU member leader Ondo Perez snatched teachers, staff, students and civilians mostly motorcycle passenger drivers in mountainous portion of Purok 7, Barangay La Purisima, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

            The group demanded released of their leader Ondo Perez and ten others who were arrested on December 2009 days after they released their 74 hostages.

Former PNP, LGU and military, government and religious officials handling that December 2009 hostage taking crisis signed agreement that once Ondo Perez and company will released remaining hostages and Perez with his surrendered, said officials who signed the agreement will worked hard and guarantee that Ondo Perez and group will be exonerated on criminal charges filed earlier and will be filed.,

Six days later on April 6, 2011, suspects Kemken Perez, 17, Rejoy Brital, 17, both minors and Joel Endengan abandoned the 16 remaining hostages in the forested area of Purok 8, Barangay La Purisima where said hostages were reportedly fetched by no less than Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward Plaza himself. 

Hostage Taking Crisis Management Committee chaired by Prosperidad Mayor Albin Magdamit during press conference on the day of the release claimed the suspects may have abandoned the remaining hostages after too much pressure on the ground from government forces plus too much hunger and tension the suspects may have suffered.

Two of the three suspects, Kem Ken Perez and Rejoy Brital were minor co-accused of Ondo Perez in the December 2009 hostage taking incident who were later turned over to Provincial Social Welfare Office headed by Bajade because they were minors.

It was not known how the two minor suspects got again involved in another hostage taking incident. The two together with 29 year old Joel Endangan, their cousin, until this press time remained at large

            During flag raising ceremony this morning held at the PNP regional office compound grounds and grandstand, Caraga PNP regional director Chief Supt. Reynaldo S. Rafal personally handed Medalya Ng Kadakilaan; PSSUPT CRIZALDO O NIEVES; PSUPT ROMALDO G BAYTING; PSUPT JACK L WANKY and PSINSP RAGEDY H PULA.

Others who received MEDALYA NG KAGALINGAN awards were; PSSUPT JANE A AUNZO;  P/SUPT RITCHIE A POSADAs; PSUPT ANTONY B MAGHARI; PSUPT JULIAN G BOQUIDA; PCINSP FLORENCE M ANDIT; PCINSP ROMEO A VILLALOBOS, Jr.;  P/CINSP WARREN E DABLO; PSINSP RODEL E MARITANA; PSINSP JOMAR P DELA CERNA;  PINSP JAMESON ESTEVES AGUILAR; PINSP JULIUS L MOJICA; PINSP JOEL G CERVANTES;  PINSP ABDUL NASSER D DIMAPORO; PINSP ROBERTO T FABREGAS.

Last April 11, 2011 in Camp Crame no less than Philippine National Police Director General Raul Bacalzo personally awarded Caraga Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Reynaldo S. Rafal and PNP Caraga regional office Chief of Staff Senior Supt. Nestor Monton Fajura, the PNP’s Medalya Ng Pambihirang Paglilingkod Award for peaceful ending of the hostage taking crisis 

 Two other police officials; Deputy Regional Director for Operations Police Chief Supt. Isagani Francisco Ganabe, Jr. and Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Director Jerome Baxinella also received awards. 

Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward Plaza, Prosperidad Mayor Albin Magdamit, Agusan del Sur Provincial Social Welfare Officer Josefina Bajade and Roman Catholic Priest Fr. Carlito Clase also received citation awards in Camp Crame for giving all out efforts and support in the peaceful resolution of the hostage taking crisis. (PNA/Ben Serrano)