Cops freed in NPA ceremony

By Alvin T. Guanzon | Jul. 31, 2014 at 12:01am

KITCHARAO,  Agusan del Norte—About 200 communist rebels in military formation marched into a mountain barangay in this town with four policemen prisoners they turned over to church and provincial officials on Tuesday amid cheers of thousands of residents.

Rebel escort.  NPA rebel leader Ka Jared
(in black uniform with bandolier) escorts
the four policemen as they marched into
a mountain barangay in Kitcharao. ALVIN
GUANZON

New People’s Army (NPA) leader, Ka Jared, shook hands with Gov. Angel Amante-Matba and Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop Rhey Timbang and other officials before the start of a rare ceremony in an open barangay hall.
“We are glad the provincial officials led by Gov.  Amante-Matba are here. But Sec. (Manuel) Roxas missed the chance to see the bad roads, lack of rural health clinic, lack of classrooms, lack of livelihood opportunities, lack of potable water, and widespread poverty,” Ka Jared said during the ceremony.

Ka Joaquin (right, top photo) reading
the release order of the National
Democratic Front and the residents
scattered around the open hall. ALVIN
GUANZON

The turn-over ceremony was held at Barangay Hinimbangan but Local Government Secretary Roxas, peace process secretary Ding Deles and Police Director Alan Purisima were at the Kitcharao Elementary School at the Poblacion, about eight kms away. They did not go up the mountain for security reasons, said a security aide.
The four policemen ---P03 Vic Concon, P01 Rey Morales, P01 Joen Zabala and P01 Edito Roquino --- were abducted during an NPA raid on Alegria in Surigao del Norte last July 10. The government accepted calls by the NPA for a five-day truce to facilitate release of the policemen.
Bishop Timbang, who helped negotiate the release of the policemen, said the rebels were sincere in their offer to release their prisoner without conditions and as a gesture of goodwill.
“Our four brothers (policemen) will now go home happy and join their families, who are waiting for them,” Timbang said.
Gov. Amante-Matba thanked the rebels and said she will support their offer to resume the peace talks between the National Democratic Front and the government, which was suspended a few years ago.