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Gunmen abandon hostages in southern Philippines

Dunya News

Philippine security forces on Wednesday found 13 hostages after the tribal gunmen abandoned them.

Hundreds of soldiers and police officers were scouring the mountains near Prosperidad Town on Mindanao Island after the tribal gang disappeared into the forest. Town mayor Albin Magdamit said that troops found the hostages going down from their encampment on the outskirts of Prosperidad.On Friday, 15 people, including two children, were seized after a school graduation ceremony. The gunmen demanded the release of a tribal leader detained for mass-kidnapping and murder. The leader, Ondo Perez, was temporarily released from jail last Saturday to take part in negotiations. Three hostages were subsequently released.Mindanao is occasionally hit by bouts of violence due to clan feuds and separatist movements, hindering the economic development in the resource-rich region.
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