ZAMBOANGA CITY, 27 May 2005 — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday commended a Roman Catholic bishop for his “heroic intervention” for the safe release of over a dozen people taken hostage by gunmen in the southern Philippines, her spokesman said.

Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar offered himself to drive the rebels away in an escape car in exchange for the release of the hostages on Wednesday in Pulacan town in Zamboanga del Sur, ending a tense two-day hijacking drama.

Police and military said the gunmen hijacked the bus on Tuesday near Plaridel town in the neighboring province of Misamis Occidental after a failed robbery attempt.

The bandits had threatened to kill the hostages if security forces try to rescue them. One gunman pulled the safety pin of his grenade and threatened to blow up the bus after seeing security forces near them.

Ignacio Bunye said the president praised the bishop for his uncommon courage for his role in the freedom of the mostly female hostages. “The president wishes to extol the uncommon courage and forbearance of Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar for his role in the safe release of the hostages in the Zamboanga del Sur drama,” he said in a statement.

While Arroyo praised the bishop’s heroism, police officials had criticized his role. Regional police chief Vidal Querol had objected to allowing the bishop to join the other hostages.

“It was a foolhardy and knee-jerk reaction to the gunmen’s demand, and that it complicated the situation and involved the Vatican,” reports quoted Querol as saying.

The gunmen freed the bishop and all hostages Wednesday afternoon in Lakewood town.

One of the gunman named Jun, who acted as the group’s spokesman, said they only wanted to get away. “We don’t want to harm the hostages, all we ask now is for a get-away car and a safe passage,” he said.

He said his group was on their way to meet with their commander in the province, but were forced to take the passengers hostage after security forces flagged down the bus for inspection.

The rebels — armed with guns, grenades and sub-machine gun — freed late Tuesday a six-year old girl and an adult after a series of negotiations with politicians.

Bishop Cabajar had been quoted on television as saying the hostage-takers were probably gun-runners who panicked when they saw soldiers at a checkpoint.

Last month, three gunmen also hijacked a bus in the outskirt of the southern port city of General Santos, shot its driver and held hostage dozens of passengers after police cornered them in the neighboring town of Malungon.

Rebels and bandits are known to actively operate in the southern Philippines.