Manila: An Al Qaida-linked militant group released a social worker after holding her hostage for 24 hours in the southern Philippines, sources said. Communist rebels also sought to strike a conciliatory note by releasing two pro-government militiamen in Surigao, Mindanao, also in the south, the sources said.

Jenelyn Enprera, an employee of the social welfare department was handed over by representatives of the Abu Sayyaf Group to mayor Gulam ‘Boy’ Hataman of Sumisip, in Sumisip’s Marang village on Thursday night, Senior Superintendent Mario Dapilloza, provincial police director of Basilan, told the Inquirer on Friday.

Enprera was released in the presence of Lieutenant Colonel Leonardo Dacumos, commander of the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion, Dapilloza said.

Three other mayors having jurisdiction over areas near Marang village, besides military commander Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Perez and the commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at the MILF 104th Base Command, extended assistance in negotiating for Enprera’s release. No ransom was paid, Dapilloza said.

Motorcycle-borne gunmen abducted Enrepra on Wednesday while she was inspecting projects in Basilan’s Ulitan Ungkaya Pukan.

Meanwhile, the communist New People’s Army (NPA) released Ronaldo Isaga and Noel Martinez, both members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu), at Sitio Mantuyom, in San Roque village, Bislig City on Thursday, Major Leo Bongosia, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division told Sun Star on Friday.

The hostages were brought to the headquarters of the 75th Infantry Battalion for medical treatment and debriefing. They had not been harmed in any way, Bongosia said.

It may be recalled that the military suspended combat operations against the NPA in Bislig City and Rosario town, Agusan del Sur, since Sunday to secure the release of the hostages, Bongosia said

The duo had been abducted on April 26 in Sitio Mabog, in San Roque village.

The Abu Sayyaf Group has been blamed for several high-profile incidents involving kidnap-for-ransom, beheadings, bombings, and other terror activities in the south and in Metro Manila.

The NPA is the armed wing of the 44-year old Maoist-inspired Communist Party of the Philippines. The communist National Democratic Front, CPP-NPA’s negotiating arm, has been holding peace talks with the Philippine government since 1992.

The CPP-NPA has been in control of several far-flung municipalities and villages.