Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Gunmen free 47 hostages in Philippines
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Gunmen free 47 hostages in Philippines
AP - Monday, December 14
Send
IM Story
Print
PROSPERIDAD, Philippines – Gunmen freed Sunday the 47 hostages they were holding at a jungle hideout in the southern Philippines after government negotiators agreed not to arrest the outlaws for the abductions or past murder charges, officials said.
The remote jungle encampment had been surrounded by troops and snipers. Vice Governor Santiago Cane of Agusan del Sur province said the hostages left aboard two army trucks. The gunmen _ former government-armed militiamen _ then surrendered their assault rifles, grenades and ammunition.
"Declaring officially that all hostages are free. Yes, at last," Cane told reporters in a cellphone message.
Looking tired but relieved after three days in captivity, the mostly male hostages waved and smiled at journalists and army troops waiting at a nearby muddy village.
All wore new white shirts given by government officials who fetched them. They will be taken to a hospital in Agusan del Sur's capital town of Prosperidad, about 515 miles (830 kilometers) southeast of Manila, for a checkup.
The hostage crisis began Thursday when the gunmen, led by Joebert Perez, abducted more than 70 people from village school and surrounding houses after police attempted to arrest him on a murder charge. Several schoolchildren and women were freed earlier, leaving 47 in captivity.
The crisis ended after Perez signed an agreement Sunday with government negotiators to free his hostages in exchange for a pledge that he and his men will not be arrested for either the abductions or past murder charges that arose from a violent land dispute with another clan.
Government negotiators, invoking a law that protects the rights of ethnic groups, agreed to Perez's demand to have his case handled by a tribal court. Police also promised to disarm his rivals, whom Perez has accused of killing some of his relatives over the land dispute, officials said.
The kidnappings were the latest in a series of security crises that have gripped the Philippines volatile south, including a jailbreak by Islamic militants Sunday on the island province of Basilan, and a massacre of 57 people, including 30 journalists, allegedly by members of a powerful clan and loyal militiamen in Maguindanao province.
The involvement of former and active militiamen in the hostage-taking and the Maguindanao massacre have sparked calls for the disbanding of paramilitary forces, which have been armed by the government to help in counter-insurgency assaults.
The militias, drawn from the ranks of the unemployed, landless farmers, former rebels and ex-soldiers, have become notorious for abusing civilians, looting homes or ending up as private armies of political warlords.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Thaksin back in Cambodia as Thai "spy" to be freed Reuters - 1 hour 3 minutes ago
Taiwan fishermen 'fall victim to climate change' AFP - Monday, December 14
Militants attack Philippine jail, 31 inmates freed AP - Monday, December 14
Police say 31 prisoners escape Philippine jail AFP - Monday, December 14
Thaksin provokes Thailand with new Cambodia visit AFP - Monday, December 14
News Search
Top Stories
Houston is first major US city to elect gay mayor
Dubai stocks maintain profits after break
'Whack A Banker' game proving a hit in Britain
Top British banker admits 'mistakes' on bonuses
US House passes historic financial sector overhaul
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Tiger Woods' girlfriend apologizes in TV interview
Top British banker admits 'mistakes' on bonuses
'Whack A Banker' game proving a hit in Britain
US House passes historic financial sector overhaul
Dubai stocks maintain profits after break
More Most Viewed »
Global stocks mixed amid Dubai debt crisis
Tiny magnetic discs could kill cancer cells: study
Virgin unveils spaceship to offer space tourism
Mankind using Earth's resources at alarming rate
Tiger Woods' girlfriend apologizes in TV interview
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 13 December 2009 Lawmaker: Iraqi security had tip-off before bombs
Showdown looms over West Bank construction curb
Intelligence on Baghdad blasts mishandled: interior minister
|
Iraq hails 2nd oil auction but risky sites shunned
Iran offers to swap low-enriched uranium for fuel
Seven crew missing after ship capsizes off Lebanon
Afghan cabinet unveiled end of the week: official
|
Rebel Abkhazia chooses leader, Russia hails vote
|
UN builds mud brick homes for homeless Gazans
Iranian clerics rally to support supreme leader
Brazil, Peru condemn Honduran limits on Zelaya
|
Blair defends Iraq war, even without WMD
Iran proposes fuel swap on Kish island
Japan takes three titles in Grand Slam judo
Martial law ended in Philippine massacre province
Violence mars huge Copenhagen demonstration
Sri Lanka war refugees face uneasy homecoming
`Family Ties' actor Bonsall charged with assault
State Department says Cuba has detained US citizen
Peshawar on front line of Pakistan's militant war
Hundreds line up as Wash. coffee shop reopens
Police: Americans in Pakistan had Taliban contact
Guzzlers gouge rift between Nevada state agencies
Thailand seizes arms on plane from North Korea
Hawaii abuzz about Obama's expected holiday return
Houston voters could elect first openly gay mayor
Philippines lifts martial law in southern province
Official: Kabul deputy mayor arrested in crackdown
NYC woman gets probation for smuggling monkey meat
Expanded Medicare won't provide seamless coverage
Rights complaint planned in Philly school attacks
Lebanon pressing US to deliver military aid
China, Kazakhstan unveil landmark gas pipeline
Japan, US reach 'open skies' deal
Woods may find it difficult to recapture old dominance
|
Miss World opens with African drums, legal drama
French rocker in induced coma in Los Angeles
Murder At A Nursing Home, 98-Year-Old Woman Kills 100-Year-Old Roommate
Jewish settler woman stabbed in West Bank
Top British banker admits 'mistakes' on bonuses
Thailand to charge plane crew over N.Korean arms
|
US-TECH Summary
Iran opposition seeks leader's removal
Rebel Abkhazia elects president in 'illegitimate' vote
Catalans vote in referendum on independence
|
Google to produce, sell own "Nexus One" phones: report
Venezuela arrests ex-securities commission chief
|
Search for Air France black boxes to resume in February
Google hints at making mobile telephone
China demotes editor after Obama interview: sources
|
Intelligence on Baghdad blasts mishandled
Tiger's website becomes forum for fans, critics
Iran opposition warns of action against reformers
|
Billionaire favored in Chile vote but run-off seen
|
Amazon projects undercut Brazil's new green path
|
Jewish settler woman stabbed in West Bank
|
Google to produce, sell own Nexus One phones: report
|
Gunmen storm jail, free 31 prisoners in Philippines
Body found on Mount Hood; 2 climbers still missing
Expanded Medicare won't provide seamless coverage
Aussie, Chinese officials urge pandas to reproduce
Correction: Japan-Slain Briton story
Man accused of killing 12 people captured in China
Obama, Medvedev discuss weapons treaty
Philippine kidnappers' animal sacrifice demand
90 vehicles trapped as Calif faces rain, snow, mud
Six injured in fifth Hong Kong acid attack
Vehicles stuck on S. Calif highway after mudslides
Police capture mass-murder suspect in China
Protesters damage Calif. university leader's home
Almost 1,000 arrested at Copenhagen climate rally
Missing Utah mom's family prays for her return
Episcopal bishop seeks prayer in rift over gays
Guerrillas stage Philippine jailbreak: police
Creator of first 50-star American flag dies at 67
Euphoria ends, reality bites Malaysia's opposition
Young Chinese groan at skyrocketing property costs
China cracks EU roadworks market via Poland
Haneke's White Ribbon sweeps European Film Awards
|
Twilight studio to distribute Polanski film
|
'Uncharted 2' nabs top prize at VGAs
Doh! The Simpsons still young and yellow at 20
Comedians in Chicago for Second City anniversary
Miss World: Gibraltar's Kaiane Aldorino crowned
Haneke's "White Ribbon" sweeps European Film Awards
Protesters condemn Swiss minaret ban
Hindus Protest Fox Channel Show's Remark That Ganges River Is 'Disease'
Supreme leader says Iran's opposition violates law
Catalans vote in symbolic independence referendum
Philippines hostage crisis ends, victims freed
|
US, Russia talks on cyberspace security: report
Sudan leaders reach deal on disputed reforms
North Korea, U.S. agree to resume peace talks: report
|
Dubai stocks maintain profits after break
'Whack A Banker' game proving a hit in Britain
Burned ayatollah photo sparks new Iranian protests
India test fires ballistic missile off east coast
|
Brown vows new push to defeat Taliban
PLO set to extend Abbas term as Palestinian leader
|
Sudan leaders "make progress" in reform row talks
Billionaire favored in Chile vote but run-off seen
|
New Afghan city official detained over graft
Israel votes new funds for settlements
|
Israeli cabinet to vote on new settlement credits
Petraeus sees shift in Al Qaeda's Iraq tactics
|
Blair will give Iraq war evidence in public: inquiry
Ethnic tensions simmer in crisis-struck Guinea
|
Cause of Air France crash may remain mystery: sources
|
Thaksin back in Cambodia as Thai spy to be freed
|
Militants attack Philippine jail, 31 inmates freed
The nation's weather
Thaksin provokes Thailand with new Cambodia visit
India test fires ballistic missile off east coast
Obama celebrates the holidays
S.Lankan rebels killed in cold blood: ex-army chief
Ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra arrives in Cambodia
Senate to vote on $1.1 trillion spending bill
Gunmen free 47 hostages in Philippines
Thailand to charge plane crew over North Korean arms
Philippines hostage crisis ends, victims freed
Hundreds protest over decision on new Indian state
Dubai stocks maintain profits after break
Disney exec: China big enough for 2 theme parks
Bangladesh seeks investment for energy projects
Kate Winslet wins Best European Actress award
Romania's unwanted children given a chance
S.Africa tackles World Cup child trafficking fears
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights