NPA releases second hostage

Mon, 12 Apr 1999 | Source: AFP

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP): Philippine communist rebels released an army sergeant on Sunday after 37 days in captivity, the second of five hostages to be freed before an April 19 deadline, an army spokesman said.

Col. Rafael Romero said Sergeant Alipio Lozada was turned over by New People's Army (NPA) rebels to local officials in the remote hilly village of Diatagon near the town of Lianga in Surigao del Sur province.

Lozada was attending a friend's wedding when he was abducted by fleeing guerrillas of the NPA's Pulang Diwata Command who had just raided a military detachment in Lianga on March 5.

NPA rebels on Friday released police Chief Inspector Roberto Bernal in eastern Sorsogon province in a bid to reopen peace negotiations with Manila.

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