Bandits free 23 hostages in Lanao del Norte

(Updated 8:36 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - The 23 civilians who were abducted by a group of armed men in Lanao del Norte Tuesday morning have been released after several hours, according to a military official. Brig. Gen. Hilario Atendido, commander of the military's Task Force Tabak, said the kidnappers released the 23 hostages around 5 p.m at the village of Balindad in Munay town. "They were used as human shields in the event the military and the police conduct pursuit operation," Atendido said. He added that the suspects’ main objective was to steal carabaos and horses from the residents. The freed civilians were taken to a military camp and would be later brought to their homes. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said the group was reportedly known locally as the Tonda Force. Brawner said at least 15 members of Tonda Force swooped down at Sitio Kulasian, San Roque village in Lolambugan town around 6:30 a.m., took the livestock of the residents there, and held 38 people hostage. Fifteen of the hostages, all females, were released two hours later. “The group was last seen withdrawing towards Tangkal, Lanao del Sur with the remaining 23 hostages," Brawner said.- GMANews.TV