In the southern Philippines, armed bandits released nine hostages while still holding 48 captive. The tribal group demanded that murder charges against them be dropped and that members of a rival group surrender.

The hostages were taken from an elementary school and nearby homes in Mindanao on Thursday.

Later on Thursday, the abductors freed 18 hostages, including 17 children -- and nine more were able to return to their families today.

Leader of the armed tribal group, Ondo Perez, demanded that criminal charges against them be dropped in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages.

[Ondo Perez, Bandit Leader]:
"We can surrender if the case against us is dropped once we go down from this area. That's the most important. And we want our enemies to surrender, they are criminals."

They have also asked police to disarm rivals from the same tribe.

Some of the women who were freed say they are worried about their husbands, who are still being held by the kidnappers at a remote hill.

[Berly Dolorito, Freed Hostage]:
"I'm not completely happy, because my husband is still there, held captive."

Another hostage says the armed men did not harm them, but made some threats.

[Merlyn Sanchez, Released Hostage]:
"Last night they told us that if one of us tried to escape, they will shoot everyone."

The Mindanao region is full of bandits, communist guerrillas and Islamic rebels. Powerful local families maintain large private armies, and feuding among them is common.

Last month, 57 people, including 30 journalists, were killed in the mountains of Maguindanao province, also in the southern Philippines. They were on their way to file a candidate's nomination for next year's elections.