Army conducting blocking operations vs. rebels that held hostage civilians in Compostela Valley

From the Philippine News Agency (May 4): Army conducting blocking operations vs. rebels that held hostage civilians in Compostela Valley

Troopers from the Army's 66th Infantry Battalion on Sunday conducted blocking operations against the New People's Army (NPA) bandits that held hostage several civilians in Sitios Tabon and Dasuran, Barangay Panamin, Mabini town, Compostela Valley since Saturday morning.

Capt. Ernest Carolina, 10th Infantry Division spokesperson, the unit supervising the operations of the 66th Infantry Battalion, said that 26 out of the 39 hostages were freed by the rebels around 4 am. Sunday.

These individuals were made captives by the NPAs around 10:20 a.m. Saturday.

The hostages include Mahayahay barangay chair Juanito Torcende.

Rebels from the NPA's "Front 2" and "PBC 6" were reportedly behind this act.

Carolina said that 10 of the freed hostages are now undergoing debriefing.

As of this posting, 66th Infantry Battalion troopers are still conducting cordoning operations to prevent the rebels from escaping.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=640454