Two soldiers belonging to 39th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army captured by communists New People’s Army in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat in February this year were released from captivity on Wednesday, April 19.
Sgt. Solaiman Calucop and PFC Samuel Garay were freed by their captors in an undisclosed village in Matanao, Davao del Sur.
The release of the soldiers was facilitated by the local crisis committee of Columbio town together with peace advocacy group “Sowing the Seeds of Peace” and the provincial government of Davao del Sur.
Report reaching EDGE Davao said present during the release were Columbio town Vice Mayor Edwin Bermudez, Davao del Sur Provincial Administrator Mark Cagas and Bishop Redeemer Yanez of the peace advocacy group.
Reports also said that the released soldiers were already reunited with their families.
The two will be turned over to their mother unit, the 39th IB today, April 19, the report added.
The 10th Infantry (Agila) Division last week criticized the NPA for their failure to release the soldiers they abducted in Mindanao.
The 10th ID said these soldiers were forcibly taken at the height of the unilateral ceasefire.
