DAVAO CITY, Philippines – New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas have released 36 of the 39 villagers they took hostage for three days in Maragusan, Compostela Valley.
The rebels reportedly used the captives as human shields while they fled from the pursuing government security forces on Saturday.
Capt. Ernest Carolina, spokesman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said only three of the hostages remain captive by the members of NPA’s Front 2 and Pulang Bagani Command 6.
At least 10 of the hostages were released later that day, while another 26 were freed at around 3 a.m. on Sunday. The hostages returned to their families.
Carolina said the three remaining hostages are all men, adding the local government is negotiating for their release.