MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Authorities in the Philippines say suspected bandits holding dozens of hostages have released all 17 children in the group, as well as an elderly woman.
But they're still keeping 57 other people, as negotiations are put on hold for the night.
Authorities say about 75 people were rounded up and abducted early this morning in a remote hamlet in the southern Philippines. The gunmen have been identified as former government militiamen.
Police had been pursuing the gunmen after a failed attempt to serve arrest warrants. Among other things, the gunmen are demanding that police leave the area and that standing murder charges against them be dropped.
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