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Gunmen in S. Philippines threaten to hurt captives if troops attempt rescue

02 April 2011 20:59 (UTC +04:00)

Naku-APA. Gunmen in the restive southern Philippines on Friday threatened to hurt their hostages, who are teachers they seized from a public school, if troops attempt to carry out rescue operation, an official said Saturday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Alvin Magdamit, mayor of Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur province, said the leaders of the gunmen phoned them and asked for the release of their leader Ondo Perez before they free the 14 teachers.

"The conditions of teachers are okay. They are asking for food, " Magdamit said,

At the same time, Magdamit said 14 teachers were held as hostage instead of 16 in the previous statement.

On Friday, armed men from a local clan stormed a village in the township of La Purisima where they seized their captives.

Magdamit said their crisis committee is negotiating for the release of the abducted victims.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. We want assurance of the victims’ safety," said Magdamit.

In December 2009, some 15 gunmen led by Peres raided a school in Prosperidad and took 75 people hostage who were later all released.