Group to Comval abductors : Release six forest workers

MANILA, Philippines - A labor group on Monday called on the abductors of the six forest workers who were kidnapped in a town in Compostela Valley last week to release their captives safely to authorities.

The Labor Unions (ALU) urged the abductors to free forestry surveyors Kendrik Wong, Nico Lasaca, Chris Favila, Matthew Cua, Jonas Loredo, and Tim Sabina.

The six were sent by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to the town of Maco to conduct a survey for the government’s forest rehabilitation project,  National Greening Program.

They were allegedly abducted by several armed men in Maco town last May 30.

ALU national executive vice president Gerard Seno said forest workers are non-partisan, disinterested and apolitical individuals who were given the dangerous and strategic task to conduct a survey of and assess the extent of the country's forest reserve.

"Without forest workers like them, we could not be able to intelligently determine the condition of our forest as one main pillars of our life support system," Seno said.

Seno also urged the police, the military, and the local provincial and municipal government to exert all peaceful efforts for the safe release of the victims.