Duterte to kin of NPA captives: They’ll be free

DAVAO CITY—Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said the four jail officers being held captive by the New People’s Army (NPA) could be reunited with their families soon.

“Barring untoward incidents that might preclude their release, you will see your husbands soon,” Duterte said during a meeting with the families of Ozamis City Jail warden Insp. Erico Llamazares, Cagayan de Oro Jail warden Insp. Murphy Tudyog, SPO2 Rogelio Begontes and JO1 Rolando Bajuyo at Marco Polo Hotel here.

The four were seized at an NPA roadblock in Bukidnon on July 21. The rebels also freed a colleague, who was being escorted to the Davao Penal Farm in Davao del Norte.

Duterte said except for Lingig Mayor Henry Dano, who is still “undergoing some processes,” and his two bodyguards, the four jail officers should be freed “because the NPAs already got what they wanted.”

“They have already rescued their former comrade from prison,” the vice mayor said, referring to Dennis Rodenas. “They already got what they wanted, so, there’s no longer any reason why they should not let go of the jail personnel.”

But Duterte said he could not join calls for a halt to the military offensives in the hinterlands of Bukidnon, North Cotabato and Davao Oriental. “This is already the eighth and ninth time that I arranged for the release of NPA captives, the military will never allow a stop to pursuit operations,” he said. Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao