Negotiations on for release of 3 hostages

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Officials of a Lanao del Norte town are negotiating for the release of three hostages taken at gunpoint by five men who had divested passengers of a bus of valuables and burned the vehicle last Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Dominador Domingo, Western Mindanao police commander, identified the hostages as Bernardo Tomarung, the bus driver; a certain Malalay, the ticket inspector, and a certain Buno, the conductor.

Superintendent Isnapi Bantala, Lanao del Norte police chief, reported to Domingo that the armed men took the hostages to Munai town for safekeeping.

Two of the hostage-takers were identified as Monib and Caraote Tomarompong, who both reside in Balinta, Munai, Lanao del Norte.

Police said about nine armed men boarded the bus in Barangay Baroy in the provincial capital of Tubod and announced a holdup when they reached the highway in Barangay Claro M. Recto, Maigo town.

After taking the money and jewelry of the passengers, they ordered them to disembark and commandeered the bus, taking along the driver, ticket inspector and conductor.

Later, the armed men, believed to be guerrillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, set the bus on fire. -