7 arrested in Philippines hostage-taking

MANILA, Philippines, April 6 (UPI) -- Seven men with ties to an Islamist militant leader have been arrested in the abduction of three Red Cross workers in the Philippines, police said Monday.

Superintendent Jose Bayani Gucela of the Western Mindanao Police, said the seven include three members of local or provincial police forces, two tribal chiefs and two suspected members of the Islamist group Abu Sayyaf. He said all are believed to be related by blood or marriage to Abu Sayyaf spokesman Albader Parad.

"They were identified by witnesses as people behind or supported the kidnapping," Gucela said. "They allegedly provided financial and logistical support to kidnappers."

Gucela told GMANews.TV all seven have denied involvement in the Jan. 15 abductions of Red Cross workers Andreas Notter of Switzerland, Eugenio Vagni of Italy and Mary Jean Lacaba of the Philippines.

Lacaba was freed by the kidnappers last Thursday. The group has threatened to behead their captives.

Sixteen other people brought in for questioning in the abductions were released for insufficient evidence.