- ZAMBOANGA, Philippines: Communist guerrillas have freed a town mayor and his two military guards after two months of jungle captivity in the southern Philippines.
Rebel spokesperson Rubi del Mundo said Sunday that the New People’s Army guerrillas handed Mayor Henry Dano of Lingig town in Surigao del Sur province and his two bodyguards to their families and officials after the three apologized for their roles in the government’s counterinsurgency operations.
Del Mundo said the mayor and his bodyguards, who were abducted from Dano’s Lingig home on Aug. 6, can be snatched by the rebels again if they resume acts against the guerrillas.
Alexander Padilla, who represents the government in peace talks with the rebels, welcomed the release of the three.
