NPA yields hostages to Baste Duterte, Bong Go
AGUSAN DEL SUR – On Tuesday, Presidential son Baste Duterte and former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go received eight hostages freed by the communist rebel group, New People’s Army (NPA).
The released hostages were among the 12 members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and two soldiers the NPA abducted last December in Barangay New Tubigon, Sibagat, Agusan Del Sur.
“Yung mga hindi pa pinapalaya, ire-release sa amin. Kasama ko si Baste Duterte, pupunta kami doon,” said Go, in an interview before proceeding to the turnover site at Barangay San Juan, Bayugan.
Last Feb. 14, six of the abducted CAFGUs were released by the NPA through a third-party facilitator and were turned over to the Army’s 401st Brigade, Fourth Infantry Division.
Among the last batch of hostages freed were Private First Class Darlino Carino Jr. and Cpl. Eric Manangan of the Army’s 3rd Special Forces as well as CAFGUs Jimuel Acebedo, Abel Iligan, Rolando Quiao, James Iligan, Gabriel Iligan, and Janjan Iligan.
Baste and Go accompanied the released NPA captives for their formal turnover to the Army’s 402nd Brigade based in Bancasi, Butuan City, where the first batch of hostages released by the NPA less than a week ago were waiting for them.
Go said he has been part of the ongoing effort since December of last year to secure the release the remaining hostages. He said a friend of Baste, who is a relative of one of the hostages, sought help to free the captives.
“Noong nakaraang taon, mayroong kaibigan si Baste na kamaganak ng sundalong nanawagan sa akin para manghingi ng tulong. Matapos niyang manawagan sa akin, naghanap kaagad kami ng paraan para makatulong,” recalled Go, who took time off from his 2019 senatorial campaign for the turnover of the NPA hostages.
Acting in his private capacity, Go said that immediately after receiving the plea for assistance, he coordinated with Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza and other local officials who may be able to help facilitate the release of the NPA captives.
He thanked the military officials for their cooperation and exercise of restraint that made the negotiations for the release of the hostages possible.
He lauded the NPA for not demanding anything in exchange for the release of their hostages. He added that the gesture of goodwill performed by the NPA group in the area may have made the renewal of peace talks between the government and the communist group a possibility once more.
Baste Duterte also noted that armed violence between the Armed Forces and the NPA is pointless when peace talks can be a non-violent yet viable alternative.
Go had been consistently appealing to the NPA to take advantage of President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer of peace, saying the group would not likely find another President who would be open to negotiate peace with them like the former Davao City Mayor.
According to Go, he and Baste will relay to President Duterte the concerns aired by the NPA.