Marawi police chief released by captors —PNP spokesman

The Marawi City police chief was released by his captors in Lanao del Sur, hours after he was seized by armed men in an early morning attack on Friday, the Philippine National Police spokesman said.

Supt. Christopher Panapan was freed in Balindong town after local officials negotiated with his captors, Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac of the PNP Public Information office said.
 
Sindac did not identify the group behind Panapan's abduction, but an earlier police report said the attack was believed to be launched by a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Earlier on Friday, some 40 armed men attacked a Marawi City police station reportedly to rescue two of their detained companions. 

Panapan's brother-in-law, identified as a certain "Malik," was killed in the incident, according to the police report.

The negotiating panel which secured Panapan's release was led by former Balindong town Mayor Benjamin Bagul and Col. Glenn Macasero of the Philippine Army, Sindac said. —  Andreo Calonzo /LBG, GMA News