NPA releases second hostage

Mon, 12 Apr 1999, 00:00 WIB | 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.

View JSON | Print