NPA releases 4 militiamen but holds on to 2 cops

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Philippines—Communist rebels freed four militiamen they had abducted earlier, after failing to find enough cause to put them on trial by a revolutionary court but they continue to hold on to two police officers they had also abducted, officials said.

Lieutenant Colonel Jose Leonard Gille, commander of the 26th Infantry Battalion, said the four militiamen—Mario Libanda, Tuloy Libanda, Rubio Asalan and Rey Joy Francisco—were released on Wednesday following negotiations conducted by the San Luis town crisis management committee.

The four were abducted separately on Monday.

The San Luis crisis committee said it continued  to make representations with the New People’s Army for the release of Police Officer 1 Ronald Alan Munez and PO1 Henry Espana, who were also abducted on Monday.