NPA rebels free 3 cops

By Funny Pearl A. Gajunera and Armando B. Fenequito Jr.
The New People’s Army (NPA) rebels released on Thursday here the three policemen they abducted in Surigao del Norte last year.
The three cops–Police Officer (PO)1Jorie Amper, PO3 Democrito Polvorosa, and PO1 Marichel Contemplo—were turned over to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte after over three months in NPA captivity.
Duterte said he was prompted to negotiate for the cops’ release after their wives sought his help last year.
“They asked me if I could help them and I said I will talk to the NPAs. I am always willing to help,” Duterte said.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines, in a statement, said the release of the Prisoners of War was ordered as an act of goodwill for the resumption of the GPH-NDFP peace talks and for humanitarian consideration of the POWs themselves and their families.
The release of the three POWs were earlier cancelled three times after the request of the NPA rebels for a suspension of military and police operation in the area of Surigao was rejected.
Meanwhile, the 3 POWs were grateful to the city mayor for taking charge of their release.
“Dako jud kaayo among pasalamat kang Mayor Duterte. Wala mi nag dahom nga siya pa ang makatabang sa amoa nga mapa-uli mi samo pamilya (We are really thankful to Mayor Duterte. We never thought that it would be him who can help us in returning home to our families),” Contemplo said.
He said celebrating Christmas and New Year away from their families was very painful.
However, the three police officers said the NPA treated them well.
“Atong Pasko gibuhat nila (NPA) tanan para madasig mi, pero dili jud mawala ang kamingaw sa mo pamilya (During Christmas they did everything to cheer us up, but we really missed our families),” Contemplo said.
Polvorosa and Contemplo were abducted by the NPA rebels in the town of Alegria, Surigao del Norte in Novermber 16, 2014.
The two policemen were on their way to Barangay Pungtod aboard a patrol car for a meeting with officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and residents for the government’s Pantawid Pampailyang Pilipino Program.
Amper was the first one to be abducted, He was seized by the rebels in a remote village in Malimono last November 12.
On Wednesday, Duterte said he was prompted to negotiate for the cops’ release after their wives sought his help last year.
“I called the Communist Party of the Philippines. Sabi ko kung walang kasalanan, i-release na yan (I told them if the cops have not committed crimes then they must be release,” Duterte told reporters at the Grand Men Seng Hotel Wednesday afternoon.
The local chief executive read before the media the release order signed by signed by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) chairman Luis Jalandoni.
Jalandoni, in his order, gave the go-signal for Duterte to fetch the cops.
Duterte stated that the release is in compliance with the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949.