By BEN SERRANO Correspondent BUTUAN City--The New People’s Army (NPA) released three Army soldiers and a militiaman in Barangay Balit, San Luis, Agusan del Sur, on Tuesday afternoon. Omar Ibarra, deputy commander of the Julito Tero Command under the NPA’s northcentral Mindanao committee freed Pfcs. Diven Tawide and Glenn Austria, and Corporal Jawad Awadi and militiaman Roy Perez. Tawide and Austria were captured during an encounter in Barangay Olave, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte in April 3. Rebel leader Omar Ibarra said the release was made  possible through help of religious leaders in the province. Awadi and Perez were seized by rebels on Tuesday morning after they were caught mixing with a crowd in the village where Tawide and Austria were scheduled to be freed later in the day. Awadi and Perez pleaded and explained they had no idea the two Army privates were to be release in the village, and that they came without firearms. Awadi and Perez were later released to San Luis, Agusan del Sur Mayor Ronald Corvera. Tawide and Austria were released to Buenavista, Agusan del Norte Mayor Norbert Pagaspas. Presidential candidate Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte came but hurriedly left after exchanging pleasantries with the NPA rebels and villagers. He said he had to leave early because he still needed to campaign.