Asia
12 kidnapped teachers in S Philippines freed
Updated: 2011-04-06 10:19
(Xinhua)
MANILA - All the 12 remaining kidnapped teachers in Agusan del Sure in southern Philippines have been freed by their captors on Wednesday dawn after five days of capture, local media reported.
Police Senior Superintendent Fajurra, spokesperson of the crisis management team, also confirmed the freedom of the hostages.
The hostages were released after they were assured by authorities of fair treatment in the criminal cases they are facing, said Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.
Prior to the release of all the 12 remaining hostages, the kidnappers freed a 13-year old boy on Monday evening.
On Sunday, the first two hostages were released to get food, water and medicine for the other hostages and the abductors.
The hostages were kidnapped by armed abductors in the southern Philippine province of Agusan del Sur on Saturday. The hostage takers demanded the release of Ondo Perez, who is being held for a similar incident in 2009 when his armed group held hostage 75 people in the same town. That incident was triggered by a land dispute between Perez's group and another tribal group. After releasing the 75 people, Perez was arrested and was held at the Agusan del Sur jail on charges of kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms in connection with the hostage-taking.
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