Mayor Rodrigo Duterte turned over the five police police
officers released by the rebels who held them captive to Police Regional Office
(PRO) - 11 Director Manuel Gaerlan at Camp Quintin in Catitipan, this city at
past 4 p.m. Monday.
The New People's Army (NPA) earlier released the chief of
police of Paquibato and four of his officers to presidential candidate Mayor
Duterte in Purok 1, Barangay Lumiad, Paquibato District.
They were released after Duterte on Sunday night sealed the
negotiation with the NPA rebels holding Paquibato Chief of Police C/Inspector
Leonardo Tarungoy, PO3 Rosenie Cabuenas, PO3 Rudolph Pacete, PO2 Neil Arellano,
and PO3 Abdul Azis Ali, who were all taken by the rebels following an attack of
the 72nd Infantry Battalion CAA (Civilian Armed Auxiliary) detachment on April
16 in Sitio Quimanao, Barangay Salapawan, Paquibato District.
Their release also followed a video released by the NPA with
PO3 Pacete asking his family not to worry as they have been treated well during
their 10-day captivity.
At the same time, Duterte emphasized that he is not
left-leaning although he could talk the same language as that of the
communists.
"I am not (a communist)...I do not subscribe to their
armed struggle," he said, in answer to some claims that he supports the
NPA rebel group.
When asked if there was a demand from the rebels in exchange
for the release, Duterte implied there was none adding that the rebels owe him
a lot.
During the release, the mayor said the rebels admitted to
have abducted the policemen because they were sent to the place as
reinforcement of the Army.
He said he reminded the rebels of their "gentlemen's
agreement" to spare the police from any form of armed encounter because
they have their police work to fulfill in ensuring the safety of the civilian
residents against criminality. He added that investigating an incident such as
the attack of the CAA detachment, is part of police work.
"All is well that ends well," Duterte said in his
message during the turnover.
With this development, the mayor urged the police to
continue with their work. "Do not be afraid to go to the mountains,"
he stressed.
He, however, advised police officers to be extra careful
next time. "Armado talaga mga yan (They are really armed). Just introduce
that you are there to investigate an incident. Keep calm you are not fighting
an appropriate enemy," he said.
Duterte recalled he was also once a victim of NPA atrocity
when the rebels drove into a deep ravine a government equipment for road
projects in Paquibato during the early years of his term as mayor. He said it
cost the city some Php2 million. He also cited an incident when he was nearly
killed by the rebels.
Meanwhile, PNP Director Gaerlan called the police officers
"heroes" because they were abducted while in the performance of their
duty. He also thanked Mayor Duterte for facilitating their release.
He condemned the incident and declared they will not be
cowed by threats of armed groups to fulfill their duty.
The turnover was capped with the mayor allowing the police
officers to go on vacation for needed rest. He also promised them a vacation to
Hongkong with their family after the elections.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=879544
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