DAVAO CITY – Communist rebels have freed Thursday three policemen they held as prisoners of war for 3 months in southern Philippines.
The policemen – PO3 Democrito Polvorosa, PO1 Marichel Contemplo and PO1 Junrie Amper, who were taken prisoner last November – were released to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in Surigao del Norte’s Gigaquit town.
Duterte, who played a key role for the safe release of the hostages, flew by a private helicopter to the province and fetched the trio at a New People’s Army rebel camp. He handed over the policemen to Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas and their families, who previously appealed to Duterte to secure the freedom of the prisoners.
“They asked me if I could help them and I said I will talk to the NPAs. I am always willing to help…naaawa ako sa mga kapamilya ng mga na abduct,” Duterte, former national security adviser and now chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council, said.
Communist leaders said the release of the policemen was an act of goodwill for the resumption of the stalled peace talks with the Aquino government and also as humanitarian consideration.
The policemen were abducted separately by rebels – Amper was taken in Malimono town in Surigao del Norte on November 12 while Polvorosa and Contemplo were seized in Alegria town on November 16.
Duterte had previously secured the freedom of many soldiers and policemen captured by rebels in Mindanao.
Duterte has reiterated his previous appeal to the government to take concrete steps to end the 42-year-long communist insurgency that he said has stunted the growth and development of the countryside.
“We have been fighting our fellow Filipinos for the last 42 years. Would it take another 42 years before we finally put an end to this?” Duterte asked.
Duterte said the national government must give serious efforts in finding ways to resolve with finality the insurgency problem in the country.
“Government has two choices, we either kill all of them or we talk to them. Killing all of them is obviously not an acceptable option because after all these are our fellow Filipinos. So the best way is to talk to them,” he said.
Duterte said that if after the offer of reconciliation, some of the rebels would choose to continue to take up arms, then government has to pursue and neutralize them. “These people are fighting for a cause they believe in. Who knows, their ideas may yet help build a nation where people will be united once and for all. This is the best legacy we could leave to our children,” he said.
Duterte, who is being convinced by several sectors to consider running for President in next year’s elections, had previously said that if he were the President, he would invite the rebels to work with him in government, provided that they will agree to lay down their arms.
The NPA – which is fighting for a separate state in the country – released recently Pvts. Marnel Cinches and Jerrel Yurong in Bukidnon province in northern Mindanao due to humanitarian reason following their capture in August last year in Impasug-ong town; and also Pfc. Alvin Ricarte and Cpl. Benjamin Samano in Compostela Valley province. (Mindanao Examiner)
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