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Philippine rebels set free all victims

All 39 victims seized by the New People's Army (NPA) in early May have been freed, confirmed the Philippine Army.
All 39 victims seized by the NewPeople's Army (NPA) in early May have been freed, confirmed thePhilippine Army.

According to the armyspokesperson, the NPA members, who wanted to use the civilians as “humanshields” to stop government forces’ attacks, released 36 people on May 4and the remaining on May 5. All of them are gold miners in Mahayahayvillage in Mindanao.

The case took place on May 3,one day after Filipino police arrested a leader of the force on thecharge of masterminding the killing of many government soldiers in Davaodel Sur and Cotabato provinces.

The NPA, which has around 4,000 members, has been operating since 1969.

President Benigno Aquino has hoped to reach a peace deal with therebels before his six-year term ends in 2016, but peace talks have sofar yielded no results.-VNA

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