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Wednesday, June 18, 2008
38 villagers taken hostage in Lanao Norte, freed
KOLAMBUGAN, Lanao del Norte -- A group of cattle rustlers known as Tonda Force abducted 38 villagers and used them as "human shields" to elude pursuing soldiers and policemen here Tuesday, authorities said.
They released all 38 hostages on the same day. "The villagers were released unharmed at around 6 p.m. Tuesday, 12 hours after they were abducted by the bandits," said Philippine National Police (PNP)-Northern Mindanao chief Teodorico Capuyan.
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The villagers are now in Kolambugan being treated by doctors, Capuyan added.
Brigadier General Hilario Atendido, chief of the Western Mindanao Command's Task Force Tabak, said the incident took place in the village of San Roque in the town of Kolambugan.
Atendido said the Tonda Force gang men seized the villagers early Tuesday after patrolling lawmen spotted them dragging 10 horses and two carabaos believed to have been stolen.
The Tonda Force has been known as an organized crime syndicate engaged in cattle rustling and other form of criminalities in the province of Lanao del Norte.
The presence of armed men prompted villagers to call the police station in Kolambugan who sent a team to San Roque, according to Capuyan.
"It was the turn of the bandits to be alarmed. They began seizing everyone they met to be used as human shields," Capuyan said.
Kolambugan Mayor Bertrand M. Lumaque said the bandits first dragged at gunpoint 12 female students and teachers who were about to start classes at the Barangay San Roque Elementary School.
Lumaque, Lanao del Norte Governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo, the police, and army immediately formed a crisis management committee to deal with the bandits.
The bandits released the students and teachers when they reached the next barangay of Palao, said Mayor Lumaque.
All other hostages were freed when they reached the adjoining municipality of Tangkal in Lanao del Norte, Capuyan said. (Bong Garcia/Richel Umel/Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (June 18, 2008 issue)
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