The gunmen, from the Manobo tribe, told police they demanded the leader of a rival clan to surrender. The rival clan is allegedly responsible for the killing of Manobo’s leader, Datu Ondo Perez, local media reported.
According to The Philippine Star, the Manobo tribe had asked for assistance from the government but received no response. The Philippines Daily Tribune reported that the kidnappers also requested cigarettes and batteries for flashlights.
During the course of the day, 17 of the kidnapped children were released, along with one adult. Two teachers also managed to escape.
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In a separate incident on Thursday, gunmen captured Orlando Fajardo, vice president of state-owned State College on the southern Island of Basilan, according to local media. The kidnapping comes a day after the head of another hostage was found in a bag in a park, after a ransom wasn’t paid.
More Violence as Clans Clash
Violence is increasing across the across the Philippines; the country is still recovering from a bloody massacre last month that killed 57 civilians, including 26 journalists and media workers, on the southern island of Mindanao.
The massacre was an attempt to prevent Esmael Mangundadatu, a political rival of the ruling Ampatuan clan, from running for governor in next year’s local elections. The attackers reportedly raped, tortured, and beheaded some of the victims. Most of the bodies were found in mass graves.
Philippine president Gloria Arroyo has proclaimed martial law in Maguindanao and sent troops to the region. Among the 161 murder suspects are about 100 identified militiamen, with only two of them in custody, according to an AP report.
The Senate in the Philippines published an investigation on Dec. 8 showing politicians using members of civilian volunteer organizations and citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units as their private armies, according to Philippine media Abante.
Norberto Gonzales, Philippine defense secretary, was quoted as saying, “There are one million loose firearms and 132 private armies all over the country.”
The military found, stuffed in a cemented wall in a warehouse, heavy explosives including mortars, missiles, rockets, and rifles, on Dec. 9 according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The weapons are believed to belong to a clan.
