NPA freed captive cop in North Cotabato

NORTH COTABATO — The New People’s Army released Monday PO1 Bristol Catalan who was abducted in Kidapawan City last August.

 

Chief Inspector Aldrin Gonzalez, spokesman of the Police Regional Office-12, said on Monday that Catalan was turned over by members of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 53 to Christian religious leaders in Barangay Bagumbayan in Magpet, North Cotabato.

 

Catalan is an intelligence agent in the Makilala municipal police office in North Cotabato.

 

He was abducted more than three months ago by NPAs while on his way to Makilala from Kidapawan City on a motorcycle.

 

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Lt. Col. Harold Argamosa of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion said the NPA set Catalan free at noon Monday through the intercession of preachers and nuns led by North Cotabato Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo.

 

Argamosa said local officials also helped negotiate the release of Catalan.

 

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Gonzalez said the North Cotabato provincial police office will provide Catalan psycho-social intervention needed to hasten his recovery from his captivity by the NPA.