Palace welcomes NPA release of captured mayor, 2 soldiers

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang welcomed on Sunday the release of Lingig, Surigao del Sur, Mayor Henry Dano and his two escorts – Corporal Alrey Desamparado and Private First Class Alan Saban – who were seized two months ago by the New People’s Army rebels.

Dano and his escorts were taken by communist rebels who stormed his house in Lingig in August.

“We welcome the release of Mayor Dano and we commend the efforts of Governor Johnny Pimentel in effecting the release of Mayor Dano,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a text message.

Lacierda also welcomed the NPA’s release on Saturday of four Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officers whom the rebels abducted at a road block in Quezon, Bukidnon, on July 21.

“But we’d like to remind the CPP [Communist Party of the Philippines]-NPA-NDF [(National Democratic Front of the Philippines] that the BJMP personnel are considered as non-combatants. They are not combatants so they should not be used as pawns in this war,” Lacierda said, this time in an interview over state radio dzRB, on Sunday.

The presidential spokesman urged the NDF “to continue doing confidence-building measures” as the government has been doing its own share to “show our sincerity towards advancing the peace process.”

Meanwhile, the Palace opted not to comment on the NPA’s admission Sunday that its former spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal had passed away.

“We have no reaction to the death of Ka Roger,” Lacierda said in another text message.