RP heeds threat to kidnapped priest

RP heeds threat to kidnapped priest

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): The government has told some 500 soldiers and police not to move in on the kidnappers of a Belgian priest in the southern Philippines following warnings that he would be "executed" if they approached, military sources said.

The government told Colonel Adelberto Yap to keep his men back from the hideout of former Moslem rebels who snatched missionary Bernard Maes Tuesday in Lanao del Sur province, the sources in Cotabato said.

Makil Mama, who identified himself as the kidnappers' leader, told a local television station that unless the government acted on their demands within two days, "we will kill this priest to end it once and for all".

The rebel leader had earlier told the station that they would "execute" the priest unless the military stopped its operations.