Gunmen in Agusan del Sur kidnap 14, set demand

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Police say gunmen in the restive southern Philippines have kidnapped 14 people, most of them teachers, and are demanding freedom for jailed relatives.

Regional police chief Reynaldo Rafar said Saturday that the gunmen took the hostages after a graduation ceremony in Prosperidad town in the remote forests of southern Agusan del Sur province in the western part of Mindanao Island. Most of them are teachers, but there are some students in the group.

In the same town two years ago, a criminal gang that included former government militia took 47 villagers hostage after police tried to arrest them.

The hostages were freed several days later after intervention by Manobo tribal elders and some gang leaders were jailed.