NPA frees 5 police officers

DAVAO CITY—Communist rebels on Monday freed the five police officers they had been holding in captivity since April 16, a police spokesperson confirmed.

The lawmen, all belonging to the Paquibato District police station here and led by Chief Insp. Leonardo Tarongoy, were investigating an attack by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels when they were ambushed.

Although no one was killed, the rebels took the five as captives, identified as Tarongoy, PO3 Rosenie Cabuenas, PO3 Rudolph Paceta, PO3 Abdul Azis Ali and PO2 Neil Arellano.

The communist-led National Democratic Front (NDF) released the police officers on the occasion of its 43rd founding anniversary, according to its spokesperson, identified as Rubi del Mundo.

Del Mundo said the NPA was still holding 11 other “prisoners-of-war” but did not give specifics.

Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, spokesperson of the Davao City police, confirmed the NDF announcement, but she did not provide details, too.

The police, however, condemned the attempt by the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, NPA, “to grab the limelight and use the abduction for propaganda purposes,” Driz said.