BOGOTA -- Two Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, guerrillas deserted Tuesday, taking two hostages, one of them a teenager, with them to freedom, a military spokesman said.
Hostages Leonardo Pardo and Alvaro Martinez were released by the two guerrillas, who belonged to the FARC's 26th Front, near the southern city of El Castillo, army 4th Division commander Gen. Luis Alfonso Zapata said.
The guerrilla group had been demanding a ransom of 6 billion pesos (some $2.7 million) for the teenager's release.
"In the morning hours of today, two freedom seekers, as we call FARC members (who demobilize), sought freedom and left the FARC's 26th Front with two young men who had been kidnapped," the general said.
The 31-year-old Pardo and the 14-year-old Martinez, who were abducted last month in the nearby town of Medellin del Ariari, reached a police checkpoint with their rebel guards at 2:00 a.m.
Over the weekend, four members of the FARC unit that held former Congressman Oscar Tulio Lizcano hostage for nearly eight years deserted.
This is wonderful news, both for the families of the hostages, and for the rebels who have chosen the path of repentence. One of the major emphases of this ministry is praying that the hearts of the wicked would be softened, and that they would restore freedom to those from whom they stolen it. Thank God for this welcome answer to prayer, and may He give many more kidnappers the strength and courage to do the right thing.
1 comment:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
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