Wounded NPA rebel airlifted from firefight to Davao City with Duterte’s help

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte personally fetched, on Tuesday, a female member of the New People’s Army (NPA) from a hospital in Bislig, Surigao del Sur, where she was treated for her wounds sustained in Sunday’s firefight with government troops near Compostela Valley.

But two other wounded rebels had to be left behind because they were not fit to be transported.

Duterte, who used a private plane in transporting Vanessa delos Reyes, a resident of Calinan District, to a government hospital here, said the NPA earlier sought his help to have her transferred to this city.

Delos Reyes will be treated for a gunshot wound in the abdomen.

Duterte described his move as an act of “goodwill and reciprocation to the previous good gesture of the rebels when they released their prisoners of war whom we wanted freed.”

Maj. Jacob Obligado, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao command, said only Delos Reyes was transported because the two others – Jason Casilum and Ariel Haducana – were in serious condition.

“The travel could do them more harm than good,” Obligado said.

He said Delos Reyes’ fate lay in the hands of the police.

Duterte said he would not prevent authorities from arresting Delos Reyes later, but added that he would make sure her rights were respected.

He said the police must first secure a warrant for her arrest.