MILF frees 62 hostages, hold on to 8 - police

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has freed 62 civilian hostages early Tuesday morning, the police chief of Kolambugan town in Lanao del Norte province said. A report over radio dzXL quoted Inspector Elmer Rubas as saying that eight people still remain with the rebels, including two members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu). "Ang mga hostages po ginawa lang pong human shield ng MILF sa withdrawal po nila. Sa munisipyo po ng Tangcal, kasunod na munisipyo ng Kolambugan po papuntang bundok, dun po nirelease kay Mayor… Batingolo alyas Komander Dante, dating kumander po ng MILF na mayor na ngayon," Rubas said. (The hostages were used as human shields. They were released to a former MILF commander who is now the mayor of Tangcal town.) "Pero…may kasama pa pong walong hostages sa ngayon accordingly na still unidentified pa rin po. Inaalam pa po natin kung sino sino yung mga unidentified na walong nasa kamay pa nila. At dalawa po run ay dalawang integree ng Cafgu," Rubas added. (There still remain eight hostages including two government militiamen.) Rubas said they remain on alert for more possible attacks from the MILF. In Manila, Brig. Gen. Jorge Segovia, acting chief of the Armed Forces command center, said in a press conference that an Army enlisted man is among those being held captive by the rebels. The MILF pulled out of Kolambugan on Monday afternoon, carrying with them a number of civilians as human shields. The rebels attacked around 4:30 a.m. Monday, where they took over the business center and held the town hostage before government armed forces forced them out before 2:30 p.m. Monday. - GMANews.TV