NPA frees policeman kept captive after raids

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ZAMBOANGA CITY—Communist guerrillas on Tuesday released a policeman they had held captive for more than a month.

The guerrillas freed Police Officer 2 Faizal Juhaili, who was taken captive during a guerrilla raid on four government buildings in Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur, on April 9. Juhaili was freed in Bayog town.

Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, police chief for Western Mindanao, said Juhaili’s release came after negotiations facilitated by an uncle identified only as Ustadz Jamiri.

Chief Superintendent Manuel Barcena, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations, said Juhaili was released in the barangay hall of Kanipaan in Bayog town.

Jorge Madlos, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front in Mindanao, said Juhaili was freed after the communist movement found no case against him.

“The NPA (New People’s Army) did not find any strong case against Juhaili while performing his duties as police officer assigned in Tigbao, so they have released him for humanitarian consideration,” Madlos said in a statement.

Madlos said Juhaili was afforded his rights while in the custody of the NPA.

An investigation, said Madlos, “yielded no evidence to prove that he committed grave crimes against the people except that he only acted according to his duty as a police officer.”

“At the same time, there were no formal charges filed against him at the court of the people’s democratic government,” said Madlos.

“Therefore, there was no material basis anymore for his continued detention, warranting his release,” he added. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao