On Mon afternoon, Apr 25, two helicopters carrying Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and five police officers who had been abducted and later released by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) landed at the police regional office in Camp Catitipan, Davao City.
“The cops were freed in Paquibato District, Davao City after being held captive for nine days by the rebel group. A ‘heroes’ welcome’ from their fellow policemen greeted the freed captives Chief Insp. Leonardo Tarongoy, PO3 Rosenie Cabuenas, PO3 Rodolfo Pacete, PO3 Abdul Azis Ali, and PO2 Noel Arellano,” reports Hernel Tocmo on ABS-CBNnews.com.
The report noted: “Regional director Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan welcomed the safe return of the police officers, who were abducted while conducting a follow up investigation after an encounter between government troops and the NPA.”
Duterte had negotiated with the rebel group for the cops’ release. He was quoted as saying, “Kanina sabi ko sa itaas, ano na naman bang kalokohan ito. Pabalik-balik tayo ng istorya dito. Sabi nga nila, ang ibang commander akala nag-reinforce. Tapos sabi ko, kukunin ko yan sila. Nagbiro pa ako. Limang boto ‘yang mawala sa akin (When I was up there, I was saying, what foolishness is this? We keep repeating the same story here. They said some NPA commander thought the cops were reinforcements. I said I was taking these cops with me. I even joked that I would be losing five votes).”
