Duterte: NPA asked for something for soldiers’ release

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  â€“ Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday the New People’s Army (NPA) asked for something in exchange for last Wednesday’s release of five soldiers who it had held captive for 43 days.

“They asked for something but I could not divulge what it was,” said Duterte, who was asked by the families of the captive soldiers to intercede for their release.

Duterte said he also made sure that the soldiers were treated well while they were in captivity.

The soldiers were seized last June 17 while doing peace and development work in Sitio Lubas, Barangay Paquibato Proper in Paquibato district this city.

The soldiers, who belong to the Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion, were released by Leoncio “Parago” Pitao, commander of the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command, in an undisclosed place in Southern Mindanao.

The NPA earlier linked the five soldiers – Cpl. Emmanuel Quezon, Pfcs. Ronald Gura, Bernie Padilla, and Donato Estandia, and Pvt. Marteniano Pasiagas Jr. – to the tagging of peasant leaders as communists, harassment of families of known NPA members, and the killing of two civilians in Davao City and Davao del Norte.

Pitao turned over the soldiers to Duterte, who flew them on board two helicopters to the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command headquarters at Camp Panacan this city.

Duterte was accompanied by peace advocates from the Exodus for Justice and Peace and a parent of one of the five soldiers.

The five soldiers were immediately brought to the Camp Panacan Hospital for medical check-up and debriefing.