Philippines: Church Group Paves Way For Release Of Captives
By UCA News
An ecumenical church group in the southern Philippines announced that it is facilitating the release of soldiers and policemen who have been held captive by communist rebels.
Protestant Bishop Felixberto Calang, convenor of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform, said his group is coordinating with the rebels and government authorities for the handover of the captives.
“I have already talked with the governors to order the police and the military to suspend operations in areas where the rebels will free the captives,” Calang told ucanews.com on April 29.
The communist New People’s Army had earlier asked state forces to order the suspension of military and police operations to ensure the safe release of the captives who were captured by the rebels on April 3.
The rebels said in a statement that they would release their captives during the first week of May.
