Gov. Johnny Pimentel remains optimistic that abducted Mayor Henry Dano of Lingig, Surigao del Sur and his two military escorts will be released before the end of the month.

During an interview this morning in one of the local radio stations here, Gov. Pimentel said that the abductors have yet to contact him. However, he said, during their last phone conversation with Dano, he was told that they are in good condition and there’s nothing to worry about them.

When asked what is the situation in the municipality of Lingig after Dano’s abduction, Pimentel said that when the official was abducted together with his two military escorts on August 6, 2011, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a memorandum on August 9, 2011 directing Vice-Mayor Roberto Luna to act as the chief executive while the first Sangguniang Bayan Member will serve as Vice-Mayor.

“With this, everything in the municipality were taken cared of and placed in order,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel further admitted he has no idea on the style or strategy to be implemented by the abductors as to how, when and where the victims will be released. He said, when Vice-Mayor Luna was abducted in 2010, he also acted as chairman of the local crisis committee and was able to negotiate with the abductors for the safe release of the victim.

However, he added the group who abducted Dano is not the same group who kidnapped Luna. “Thus, I cannot really tell what process they (abductors) will be implementing this time for the safe release of Mayor Dano,” he said.

Furthermore, Pimentel said he is still optimistic that the victims will be released because they may bring additional burden to the group in as far as conducting their revolutionary activities. (PIA-Caraga)

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