Lingig Mayor Henry Dano and his two military escorts, Corporal Alrey Desamparado and Private First Class Rolan Saban, are released in the presence of Surigao del Sur Johnny Pimentel for humanitarian reasons. Also present are members of the International Committee of Red Cross and the Sowing the Seeds of Peace.

NPA’s Merardo Arce Command presents Dano and his two escorts to the members of the press.

Dano was arrested August 6 by the NPA for charges of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL).

In earlier statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said it has made “a political decision to suspend the judicial proceedings against the municipal mayor as an affirmative response to his issuance of an apology.” In an audio clip, Dano apologized for “his acts constituting violations to human rights and to international humanitarian law.”

After his release, Dano said that it should be recognized that there are two existing governments in the country, the Government of the Philippines and the Revolutionary or People’s Democratic Government.

A day before, the NPA’s Guerilla Front 53 also released the four BJMP personnel.

The four BJMP personnel, Jail Inspector Murphy Bomoway Todyog, Jail Warden Erico Dacillo Llamasares, Special Jail Officer 2 (SJ02) Rogelio Begontes and Jail Officer 1 (JOI) Rolando Delta Bajoyo, Jr, were intercepted and taken as prisoners of war by the NPA in Kitaotao, Bukidnon last July 21 while transporting political detainee Dennis Rodenas to Davao.

Jail Warden Erico Dacillo Llamasares undergoes a checkup by a local government doctor during the release and was declared physically fit. Two of the released BJMP personnel had high blood pressure.




Jail Inspector Murphy Bomoway Todyog hugs his former custodian as the four BJMP personnel captured by the NPA were released today in North Cotabato.

According to the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the recent releases were carried out on humanitarian reasons and as confidence-building measures to the peace talks between the GPH and the NDFP.

Photos By KARLOS MANLUPIG
Text By RONALYN V. OLEA