Philippine tribal gunmen kidnap 16: Police

Philippine tribal gunmen demand the release of an arrested comrade.

Butuan: Philippine tribal gunmen kidnapped 16 teachers and students, demanding the release of an arrested comrade, according to police and local officials.

Members of the Manobo tribe, led by Reyjoy Brital, abducted the group, including several minors, in the southern island of Mindanao on Friday, a police official and the local mayor said.

Speaking to negotiators through a cellphone, Brital threatened to kill the hostages if a rescue attempt was launched.
"They should behave because if they continue to come into our area we will make an example out of the hostages," Brital said in the local dialect.

Bureau Report