The New People’s Army (NPA) released on
Monday the five police officers it held as captives for
nine days in Purok 1, Brgy. Lumiad in Paquibato District here.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte facilitated the release
of the five police captives who were brought by a helicopter to the
headquarter of the Police Regional Office 11 at Camp Quintin M.
Merecido at past 4 p.m.
The five police captives were identified as Chief Insp.
Leonardo V. Tarongoy, the station commander of Paqubato
Police Station; PO3 Rosenie L. Cabuenas; PO3 Rudolf Pacete;
PO3 Abdul Azis A. Ali Jr.; and PO2 Neil C. Arellano.
They were heading toward Brgy. Salapawan to attend to a
civilian who was injured in a clash between the military and NPA on April
16 when they were flagged down in Brgy. Mapula.
Capt. Rhyan B. Batchar, chief of 10 Infantry Division’s
Public Affairs Office, said 60 armed men attacked the detachment in
Quiman-anao, Salapawan.
Government militiamen retaliated but withdrew as the
attackers outnumbered them. The NPA took 19 assorted high-powered
firearms.
Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson of the
NPA Regional Operations Command-Southern Mindanao Region, said
the 1st Pulang Bagani Command abducted the police officers and
declared them prisoners-of-war.
Duterte said he asked the leadership of the NPA
in Southern Mindanao to release the
police captives as they have nothing to do with the military
operations.
“They are just there to investigate. Pano pag may nakawan,
ni-rape?,” he said as he recalled the instances how he appealed for the
release of the abducted police officers in the past.
He reiterated that the NPA must spare the
police who are only exercising their duties as law enforcers.
PRO 11 director Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan vowed to
continue exercising their responsibilities as he lambasted the rebel group for
allegedly using the police for their “propaganda stunt”.
“We will not be cowed by any groups as we continue serving
the people even if there there will be more abductions,” he said.
He said they consider the five police as heroes who
were captured in the performance of their duties.
Duterte said the NPA thought the police went there as
reinforcement.
“Akala ko ba hindi hinuhuli ang police. Sabi nila ‘Akala
namin nag-reinforce.’ I cannot go there, climb to the
mountains because I had to go to Manila
“Kung ayaw ninyo sa Army, okay lang. Pero police, may
jurisdiction ako kasi mga tao ko ‘yan,” he said.
Duterte told the police not to engage rebels in
a firefight.
“Do not fight them. Wag magdala ng baril,” he said.
The mayor also brushed aside rumors that he is a member of
the NPA, saying he can “speak in the same language” because he is a leftist
himself.
“I am Left because I am a son of a poor man… I do not
subscribe to armed struggle,” he said.
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2016/04/25/npa-frees-5-cops-in-davao/
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