Communist rebels free 5 cops captured in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Communist rebels on Monday freed the five police officers they captured here on April 16, a police spokesperson confirmed.

The five officers of the Paquibato police station, led by station chief Chief Insp. Leonardo Tarongoy, were to probe an earlier attack by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels when ambushed.

None of them was killed but the rebels took them as captives. Aside from Tarongoy, also taken were PO3 Rosenie Cabuenas, PO3 Rudolph Paceta, PO3 Abdul Azis Ali and PO2 Neil Arellano.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) said it had released the captives on the occasion of its 43rd founding anniversary.

Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, spokesperson of the Davao City Police Office, confirmed the release as announced by NDF spokesperson Rubi del Mundo.

But she did not provide additional details.

Driz said the police “condemned the attempt by the CPP/NPA to grab limelight and use the abduction for propaganda purposes.”

Del Mundo said the NPA was still holding 11 other “prisoners-of-war” but did not provide further details, such as whether they were policemen, soldiers or civilians. RAM

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