LUCENA CITY, Philippines—The communist New People’s Army is ready for the orderly and safe release of three policemen being held as “prisoners of war,” according to the spokesman of the National Democratic Front in Rizal province.

“The NDF-Rizal is always ready for their orderly and safe release,” Ka Arman Guerrero, said in an e-mail statement received by the Inquirer Friday.

Guerrero said the communist guerrillas are willing to negotiate for the release of the captives but demanded that the military and police first call off rescue operations.

The NDF, the political arm of the insurgents, is the umbrella organization of groups within the communist revolutionary movement.

Guerrero said the rebels will immediately set free Insp. Rex T. Cuntapay, PO1 Alberto Umali and PO1 Marvin M. Agasen once they had been cleared of crimes against the people and the revolutionary movement.

The rebel spokesman said the NPA rebels give their captives freedom to call their families for them to report their real conditions.

In a radio report, Chief Supt. Perfecto Palad, Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal Quezon) police regional head, confirmed that the wives of the policemen received text messages from their husbands saying they were okay and being treated well.

Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon