Gunmen kidnap 16 people in southern Philippines

Gunmen kidnap 16 people in southern Philippines

2011-04-02 21:51:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

PROSPERIDAD, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- Gunmen on Friday kidnapped at least 16 teachers and students in the restive southern Philippines, the Manila Bulletin reported Saturday.

According to officials, the gunmen grabbed the hostages after attending graduation ceremonies at a primary school in the township of La Purisima in Agusan del Sur province around 4 p.m. Friday. The kidnappers are demanding for the release of their leader Ondo Perez, a former government militiaman who is in jail for kidnapping 75 people in the same municipality two years ago.

"What we know is that they are relatives and remnants of the lawless Perez group and they are demanding for the release of their jailed leader and companions," Chief Inspector Nelly Villagarcia, information officer of the regional police, said in a phone interview.

Local officials are cautiously dealing with the gunmen since their leaders threatened to kill all the hostages if any rescue operation is launched by the police and if their demands are not met.

"We have already tapped the services of negotiators and a local crisis management committee has already been organized to deal with the problem," Villagarcia added.

According to a police report, there are six hostage-takers, armed with an M16 rifle, a shotgun and short firearms.

In December 2009, Perez and his group stormed several schools and communities in the town and kidnapped 75 people, using them as bargain for the government to drop all the criminal charges leveled against him and his men. The arrest warrants were for robbery and murder charges filed by their rival Tubay family.

The crisis ended peacefully but Perez and at least three of his men were arrested after the incident.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-02