Police: 10 of 12 villagers abducted in Basilan freed

Ten of the 12 villagers seized by armed men in the southern Philippine province of Basilan have already been released, the police said Tuesday. In a text message, Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional police director, said the hostages were released with the help of four village chiefs and other members of the local crisis management committee. No money or firearms were given to the abductors in exchange for the victims’ release, Latag said. Investigators blamed clan rivalry or rido for the incident. The victims were abducted last Saturday while they were returning from a fishing trip in Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan. Latag said they have already identified the people behind the abduction. - Mark Dalan Meruenas/KBK, GMANews.TV