ZAMBOANGA CITY – Heavily armed “lost command” rebels raided a village yesterday and took 38 people hostage in a remote town of Lanao del Norte, according to military official.
The military said the rebels claimed to be under “Tonda Force,” a faction of “lost command” rebels operating in cattle rustling, also seized farm animals, including 10 horses and three carabaos, during the raid about 6:30 a.m. at Upper Kulasihan, Barangay San Roque, Kulambugan town.
Brig. Gen. Hilario Atendido, Joint Task Force Tabak, said the rebels led by a still unidentified commander, however, released 15 of their hostages, mostly females and children two hours later.
Atendido said it was not immediately clear what were the demands of the 15 armed hostage takers but believed the civilian captives were just used as human shields.
“The rebels took hostage the civilians and used them as human shields against the pursuing troops and police forces in the area,” Atendido said.
Atendido said the provincial government of Lanao del Norte has activated its crisis managers to seek the safe recovery of the hostages.
According to Atendido, joint military and police forces have conducted pursuit operation for the recovery of the 23 remaining male hostages.
Reports said a total of 12 teachers and pupils of Barangay San Roque Elementary School in Lanao del Norte were reportedly kidnapped by still unidentified armed men yesterday morning, Army reports said.
Col. Edwin Respicio, commander of the 32nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Lanao said the abduction took place at about 8 a.m. while the teachers and pupils were preparing for the day’s start of their regular classes.
Allegedly most of those snatched by armed men were female pupils of the elementary school while male pupils were left behind as armed men fled with the victims on foot.
The Philippine Army and the police immediately conducted search and rescue operations.
No demand letter so far surfaced neither what armed group admitted as responsible in the suspected abduction. – With Jaime Laude