FOUR policemen who have been held hostage by the New People’s Army (NPA) were released late Tuesday afternoon following negotiations between the government and the rebel group.
The negotiations took place also amid a ceasefire agreement.
A negotiating team composed of government representatives and members of the media was accompanied by one of the rebels to an undisclosed encampment in the mountains of Agusan del Norte, about an hour away from the municipality of Kitcharao.
A negotiating team composed of government representatives and members of the media was accompanied by one of the rebels to an undisclosed encampment in the mountains of Agusan del Norte, about an hour away from the municipality of Kitcharao.
The rebels read aloud a release order signed by Luis G. Jalandoni, chairman of the National Democratic Front.
The captive police officers, previously identified as PO3 Vic C. Concon, PO1 Rey O. Morales, PO1 Joen B. Zabala and PO1 Edito F. Roquino, were then released around 4:00 p.m. in Hinambangan village, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.
The four were held hostage for more than two weeks, following an NPA raid at the Alegria municipal police station in Surigao del Norte on July 10. The attack left two police officers wounded and two of the rebels dead.
Prior to the release, the NPA said they will free the hostages in exchange for a five-day ceasefire agreement with the military.
The AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command suspended military operations on July 27 in Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte, covering the municipalities of Placer, Bacuag, Tubod, Gigakit, Claver and Alegria.
The captive police officers, previously identified as PO3 Vic C. Concon, PO1 Rey O. Morales, PO1 Joen B. Zabala and PO1 Edito F. Roquino, were then released around 4:00 p.m. in Hinambangan village, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.
The four were held hostage for more than two weeks, following an NPA raid at the Alegria municipal police station in Surigao del Norte on July 10. The attack left two police officers wounded and two of the rebels dead.
Prior to the release, the NPA said they will free the hostages in exchange for a five-day ceasefire agreement with the military.
The AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command suspended military operations on July 27 in Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte, covering the municipalities of Placer, Bacuag, Tubod, Gigakit, Claver and Alegria.
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