NPA hands over abducted soldier to Duterte

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he took pity on the family of abducted Private First Class Khen Subere. CEBU DAILY NEWS PHOTO

SARANGANI—The New People’s Army (NPA) on Saturday handed over to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte the Army soldier its forces abducted from T’boli, South Cotabato, on April 12.

Wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, Private First Class Khen Subere was hugged tightly by members of his family, who arrived on a mountain rebel lair here earlier in the day.

Ka Efren, a rebel spokesperson, said the NPA had chosen Duterte to receive Subere, as it did with previous releases of “prisoners of war,” because he was the only government official they could trust.

Subere was the fifth “POW” the NPA handed over to Duterte since the start of the year.

In January, the rebels also freed through Duterte Compostela Valley Jail Warden Jaime Coquilla, whom they abducted in December 2014.

A few weeks later, the NPA, “in an act of goodwill,” also released to Duterte the three police officers abducted during separate attacks in Surigao del Norte, also in December.

“We have high regard for the mayor and we have confidence in him,” Ka Efren said during the release of Subere.

Duterte, who arrived via helicopter at the release point here, said he took pity on Subere’s family and immediately agreed when informed the NPA wanted him to receive the soldier.

The mayor said he could not just watch families of NPA captives grieve, which was why he did not mind traveling to the hinterlands to make sure they returned home safe.

Subere, who was assigned to the 27^th Infantry Battalion in Kiamba, Sarangani, was visiting his kin in Barangay New Dumangas in T’boli, South Cotabato, when abducted.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes was among those who urged the NPA to release the captive, saying they had no reason to hold him as POW because he had not committed any crime against the people.

“I’m appealing to the NPA to release PFC Subere. He is a good person and has no record of abuses or involvement in related activities,” Fuentes said last week.

Fuentes said Subere, who enlisted with the Army only two years ago, had been assigned with the 27IB’s community peace and development team.

Ka Efren said prior to his release, Subere underwent investigation for his supposed involvement in psychological warfare under the Armed Forces of Philippines’ Oplan Bayanihan.

He acknowledged that Subere was not found guilty of personal abuses and the NPA eventually worked for his return to his family. RC