Freed priest says he was treated well

Freed priest says he was treated well

ILIGAN, Philippines (AFP): A Belgian priest who was kidnapped by former guerrillas said yesterday he was well treated and voiced hope the government would give more "justice" to abductors.

Roman Catholic priest, Bernard Maes, who was freed late Wednesday, was quoted by local officials as saying: "I was handled very courteously. I was given a jacket and a mosquito net and I was treated (like) a human being" by the gunmen who kidnapped him Tuesday.

The local officials also revealed the kidnappers had set another condition for Maes' release -- that relatives, summoned earlier by authorities regarding the kidnapping, would be allowed to go free.

Maes was released after local police summoned an undetermined number of the abductors' relatives -- an apparent implied threat against the families.