MANILA, Philippines - Communist rebels on Monday afternoon released an incumbent mayor and his 4 military and police escorts in Lingig town, Surigao del Sur province.

Authorities said Lingig Mayor Roberto Luna Jr., the winning vice mayoralty candidate, was released past 5 p.m. with his escorts, Privates First Class John Rey Abao and Arnel Dizon, Police Officer 2 Boy de Castro and Police Officer 3 Alan Dapitanon.

Luna said he believes he was able to satisfy the rebels with his answers to allegations of land grabbing, the murder of a former Lingig mayor and maintaining a private army.

"Ipinapasagot lang nila sa akin na sa tingin ko naman nasagot ko naman. walang hinihinging pera o anumang kapalit," the mayor said.

Luna and his escorts were abducted last May 5 along the Davao-Agusan Road in Barangay Pasian, Monkayo in Compostela Valley province.

The mayor said the rebels moved them from one place to another within the forested area of the province to evade pursuing troops.

Meanwhile, Luna denied allegations of his political rivals that his abduction was scripted and was done to gain sympathy of the voters.

In an interview with ABS-CBN Caraga, Ruel Agustin of the New People's Army's Conrado-Heredia Command said the "cases" against Luna have been suspended.

Agustin said Luna admitted during a "trial" that he was maintaining a private army.

He said they released Luna on the condition that he would publicly admit and apologize for his sins.

"Napagdesisyunan namin na isuspinde muna ang kaso na isinampa laban sa kana at i-release muna siya, pero nandyan pa ang kaso," Agustin said. -- Report from Rodge Cultura, ABS-CBN Caraga