AGUSAN DEL SUR, Philippines - Officials are considering the release of kidnap group leader Ondo Perez in exchange for 12 people taken hostage by tribal members in Agusan del Sur. 

An official from the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) handling the issue, however, said Tuesday that it will be up to the court to decide whether to free Perez, who faces faces kidnapping and multiple murder charges.

“If we can give [in to] the demand, why not? Depende sa legal framework,” said police Superintendent Nestor Fajura, spokesperson of the CMC. 

The CMC also issued a brief statement 8 p.m. Tuesday night that was read by provincial information officer Jay Solos.

According to the statement, there is a possibility that Perez may be freed from jail. 

Families of the hostage victims are also willing to help in the negotiations, Solos said. 

Perez surrendered in December 2009 following another hostage-taking incident in Barangay San Martin  in Prosperidad town.

He faces kidnapping charges over the incident on top of an earlier multiple murder case.

Perez's 17-year-old nephew, Kenken Perez, is said to have replaced him as the leader of the group.

The hostage crisis entered its fifth day on Tuesday, with the abductors having freed only 3 people so far.

Last Sunday, the hostage-takers released 2 of their captives. They freed a 12-year-old boy on Monday night.

The boy, Marvin Jay Corvera, immediately underwent stress debriefing with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

"We tried to get all hostages pero isa lang ang pinalaya," said Mayor Albin Magdamit, chairman of the CMC. 

The crisis committee also assured the public that the 12 remaining hostages are in good condition. – with a report from Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN News; ANC