16 teachers and student on the outskirts of Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur, Philippines held hostage by a group of gunmen since Friday.
Spokesperson of Philippine National Police in Caraga regional office, Chief Inspector Nelly Villagracia said that around 4pm last Friday, the group of gunmen led by Llad Perez grabbed the hostages after attending graduation ceremonies at a primary school in Barangay (Village) Purisima.
Among the hostages are teachers and students, Joel Sausa, Manuel Mordeno, Filipina Quitoy, Allan Gallano, Mary Jean Bedrijo, Arnold Quitoy, Pido Dolorito, Gerlie Monticalbo, Maricel Lagnazon, Diosdado Cabantac and Shen-shen Cabagtag, and Agusan del Sur Division Superintendent Hipolito Lastimado, District Supervisor Narciso Oliveros, school principal Apolonio Alibangbang. The remaining two hostages were names are unknown is said to be caught while they were riding in motorcycle.
The first 11 names were either teacher or student, but were not indentified which ones are pupils or teachers.
The 16 hostages were said to be kidnapped by a former communist insurgent Reyjoy Brital and threatened the authorities to kill the hostages if a rescue attempt will be launched. This is according to the Agence France Press.
According Villagracia, Perez was a relative of Ondo Perez, who was captured by the AFP last 2009 after he held 75 people hostage in the same municipality.
One of the demands of Perez is to free Ondo from jail, Villagracia said.
She also added that as of now, plans are being set by the officials to work on the release of the hostages.
Last Saturday, a threat was been given by the group of Perez after the radio reports that authorities will attack them.
This action of the kidnappers made the higher officials to release a gag order to prevent the situation from getting worse.
Villagracia also appealed to the reporters to be cautious in their report, for they are being monitored by the group and this might put the life of the hostages in great danger.
As of now Villagracia said that relatives of the hostages must not worry for the police are being put into stand by and letting the negotiators do their work to free the hostages.
