Rebels demand 'prisoner swap'

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Communist rebels holding four jail officers in Bukidnon demanded for the release of their six comrades detained in jails run by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), an official said.

Jail Insp. Arnel Nacasabog, Lumbia jail acting chief, said the New People's Army (NPA) demanded for a "prison swap" for the BJMP personnel they kidnapped on July 21, 2011.

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He however declined to give details of the ongoing negotiation.

"I don't have the concrete details of the negotiation but as far as I know, that was the demand of the NPA," Nacasabog told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

He added that Chief Supt. Dionisio Mamaril of BJMP national headquarters in Manila personally went to Bukidnon for the negotiation.

Although the NPA earlier assured not to harm the four captives, Nacasabog expressed apprehension on the health condition of Jail Inspector Murphy Todyog.

"He has arthritis and is in fact under medication. His feet are swollen now, for sure," Nacasabog said.

Aside from Todyog, also captured were Jail Insp. Ericho Llamazares, jail warden of Ozamiz City Jail; Senior Jail Officer 2 Rogelio Begontes and Jail Officer 1 Rolando Bajuyo Jr.

The BJMP personnel were seized by at least 200 heavily armed NPA rebels in Kitaotao, Bukidnon while they were on their way to the Davao Penal Colony to turnover eight inmates.

The communist rebels rescued Dennis Rodenas, whom they refer to as a victim of injustice.

Rodenas' connection with the rebels was not established. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)