10 Basilan fishers freed

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Ten of 12 fishermen who were seized by armed men in a remote Basilan village were freed after local officials intervened to settle the war between two clans that was blamed for the incident.

Basilan Vice Gov. Al-Rasheed Sakalahul said the 10 hostage-takers did not seek any monetary demand or firearms when they released the 10 fishermen before noon Tuesday in Sitio Layohan, Barangay Matata in Ungkaya Pukan town.

The two remaining hostages are still in the hands of the suspects led by Abdul Muid Hambali alias Puwi.

Sakalahul said the fishermen were just used as hostages by the armed group to call the attention of the local leaders to settle the feud between the two clans.

He said the hostage-takers were neither members of the Abu Sayyaf nor the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.