Government officials have praised the efforts of a Christian group for their role in brokering the release at the weekend of seven hostages kidnapped by the communist-led National Democratic Front earlier this year.

Sowing the Seeds of Peace (SSP), created last year to initiate broad citizen-based participation in the peace process in Mindanao in the southern Philippines, helped secure the release of a town mayor, two soldiers and four prison guards.

Bishop Modesto Villasanta of the United Church of Christ and chairman of the group, said the SSP negotiated on behalf of the parents, spouses and children of the captives.

The New People’s Army, the military arm of the Communist party, on Saturday released four prison guards who were “arrested” on July 21 in Bukidnon.

Mayor Henry Dano of Lingig town in Curigao del Sur and two army escorts identified as Alan Saban and Alrey Desamparado were freed yesterday after being taken from the mayor’s residence on August 6.

“As we release Mayor Dano today, we also warn those despotic big landlords …  environmentally destructive foreign mining firms, large agricultural plantation owners and politicians who maintain [private armies] not to exploit, oppress and terrorize the masses,” said Rubi del Mundo, spokesperson for the NDF in Southern Mindanao in a statement on Sunday.

SSP expressed pride in its contributions to securing the release of the hostages.

Father Hipolito Peracha, catechetical director of the Catholic diocese of Kidapawan and the provincial director of SSP, said the diocese allowed him to take the lead in establishing a communications link between the NPA custodial unit and the provincial office of the governor.