CHIEF Public Attorney Persida V. Rueda- Acosta and Gov.  Lala Taliño Mendoza led the efforts for the release Saturday afternoon in the hinterlands of North Cotabato of four jail guards abducted by the New People’s Army in Bukidnon last July after 11 weeks in captivity and ahead of the resumption of peace talks scheduled later this month.

The release of Jail inspector  Eric D. Llamasares, Ozamiz City jail warden and member of the Philippine National Police Academy Class 2007; Jail Inspector Murphy B. Todyog, PNPA Class 2008; Special Jail Officer 2 Rogelio E. Begontes and Jail Officer 1 Rolando D. Bajuyo Jr., all belonging to the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, at Balite, Magpet, North Cotabato, at about 3 p.m. Saturday was facilitated by  Acosta and Gov. Mendoza.

They were later brought to Kidapawan for medical checkup with representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

They were later turned over by Acosta to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology head Director Ros Dial.

Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo informed President Benigno S. Aquino III about the release of the four by the Herminio Alfonso Command Guerrilla Front 53 Operations Command of the NPA Southern Mindanao  via text several minutes after their release.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda welcomed the release of the four BJMP personnel whom he stressed are non-combatants.

“So ang request lang namin po sa NPA ay huwag naman pong gamitin ang mga sibilyan or mga non-combantants sa kanilang operations,” Lacierda said.

Dano released

Several hours after the freeing  of the four jail guards, the Reds announced yesterday the release of Lingig, Surigao del Sur Mayor Henry Dano and his two Army escorts.

The release was also confirmed by Secretary Robredo who said in a text message that the mayor and the soldiers had been freed around 3 p.m. in the hinterlands of Trento town in Agusan del Sur province.

With a report from Paul M. Gutierrez