NPA rebels free 3 hostages in Mindanao, vow to release 4 others
TANDAG CITY, Philippines—Communist guerrillas in Mindanao separately freed three of their seven captives on Friday while pledging to release the other four remaining captives on Saturday.
Released were Police Officer 1 Richard Yu of the Carmen, Surigao del Sur police station; Chief Insp. Arnold Ongachen, the chief of police of Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental; and PO1 Michael Grande of the Banaybanay, Davao Oriental police.
Yu, who was the among first New People’s Army (NPA) captives freed in Mindanao as the negotiations resumed in Oslo, Norway, was abducted on July 5 for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. The rebels released him to his family in a remote village here.
Ongachen and Grande were received by Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao and other officials from Sarangani and Davao City in an undisclosed area.
Ongachen was taken captive during an NPA raid at the Gov. Generoso police station on May 29, while Grande was abducted by communist rebels in Lupon, Davao Oriental on June 19. RAM/rga
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