COMPOSTELA VALLEY – Communist rebels have freed two captured government soldiers, but are still prisoners 2 other infantrymen and three police officers in the southern Philippines.
It said the duo – Pfc. Alvin Ricarte and Cpl. Benjamin Enot Samano – were released over the weekend to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who helped negotiate for their freedom in Montevista town in Compostela Valley province.
The two soldiers, who were taken captive during a rebel raid at a banana plantation owned by Sumitomo Fruits Corporation earlier in December in Davao del Norte’s New Corella town.
Both soldiers, who belong to the 60th Infantry Battalion, were brought by Duterte to the Eastern Mindanao Command headquarters in Davao City on a chopper. The soldiers are being debriefed, but army officials have not release any statement about the soldiers.
The New People’s Army rebels are holding Pvts. Marnel Cinches and Jerrel Yurong and PO3 Democrito Polvorosa, PO1 Marichel Contemplo and PO1 Junrie Amper as prisoners of war in the restive region.
The rebel group, which is fighting for decades now for the establishment of a separate state in the country, said the two soldiers were released for humanitarian reason after their families appealed for their safe return.
The NPA is likely also to free other prisoners following a truce declared by the rebels and the government to allow them to celebrate the yuletide holidays. (Mindanao Examiner)
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