NPA frees police officer in North Cotabato

MAGPET, North Cotabato — The New People’s Army on Friday freed a police officer it had held captive for nearly seven months, a gesture seen to boost the prospects for the resumption of the stalled talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Clad in white sweatshirt, printed with “NPA POW” [Prisoner of War], Insp. Menardo Cui sat on a makeshift stage somewhere along the border of Davao City and Magpet town, North Cotabato province, teary eyed, as a female rebel fighter read the decision for his release.

“Insp. Menardo Cui was released on humanitarian consideration amid the appeals of his family, friends and other well-meaning individuals and after he showed genuine contrition of his sins against the people and the revolutionary movement,” Ka Trisha, a rebel fighter sporting a Mao cap, said

Cui, 49, deputy police chief of President Roxas town in North Cotabato, was snatched at gunpoint by several NPA rebels in the town proper on the night of Dec. 28, 2017.

The NPA custodial force turned him over to Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and representatives of religious rights group Exodus for Justice and Peace.

Go thanked the rebels for the release and for not harming the officer during his nearly seven months of captivity.

Go said Cui’s family sought his help early in January for the police officer’s immediate release.

The freed police officer thanked his former captors, whom he affectionately called “brothers and sisters,” as he appealed for both parties to go back to the negotiating table and talk “so death would not triumph all over us,” he said.

Then, he wept when the rebel spokesperson mentioned about the death of his cancer-stricken wife while he was in captivity.

Go said he would relay to President Rodrigo Duterte the rebels’ call for the resumption of peace talks with the government.

The presidential aide gave some cash assistance to the freed police officer. Go also gave two pairs of sports sneakers to the NPA fighters “so that they can play basketball.”

Go then as flown back to Davao with Cui on a helicopters, before proceeding to join President Rodrigo Duterte to attend to fire-stricken residents of Jolo in the afternoon. /atm