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Communist rebels free captured army lieutenant in Philippines

Other News Materials 6 January 2009 13:12 (UTC +04:00)

Communist rebels in the Philippines on Tuesday released an army lieutenant after two months in captivity, the military said.

Lieutenant Vicente Cammayo was turned over to a local official in Kausagan village in Loreto town in Agusan del Sur province, 900 kilometres south of Manila, reported dpa.

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres said Cammayo was freed because of the efforts of local officials, his family and security forces in the area.

Cammayo was captured by communist rebels after a clash in nearby Compostela Valley province on November 7. Two soldiers were also killed in the fighting.

Torres said the rebels should be prosecuted for the kidnapping, adding that "there's no reason for anybody to be grateful to the (guerrillas)" for the lieutenant's release.

"The release of Lieutenant Cammayo is not an act of goodwill," he said. "Being a clear criminal act, those who are behind the abduction must be held responsible under a legitimate justice system."

"We shall continue our vigorous military operation to pursue the abductors," he added.

Communist rebels have in the past captured soldiers and policemen, most of whom were freed unharmed after negotiations with local politicians.

The guerrillas have been fighting the Philippine government since the late 1960s, making the movement one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies in Asia.

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