The Philippine National Police has asked the Commission on Human Rights to look into the plight of five police officers who were abducted and detained in “animal cages” by the New People’s Army in Davao City last week.
The CHR should step into the case of the five cops who were placed under “sub-human” conditions, said Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesman.
Malacañang condemned “this lawless act against our police officers, who were performing their duty to protect the security and well-being of our people.”
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the PNP is exerting efforts to capture the NPA rebels while ensuring the safety of the five police officers.
The five on board patrol car No. 82 of the Davao City Police Office were responding to a distress call from the beleaguered military soldiers who were under heavy fire from the NPA rebels.
Led by Chief Inspector Leonardo Tarongoy, the five policemen were abducted at noon on April 16 by the NPA, whose 1st Pulang Bagani Command claimed responsibility for the abduction.
The PNP condemned the abduction and promised the cops’ families that it will do all it can to bring them home.
Invoking the need for CHR to intervene, the PNP said the officers were “performing [their] law enforcement function” when they were taken.
“The PNP condemns this lawless act against PNP personnel who were only performing their duty to serve and protect the people. These police officers are but citizens who are working for the improvement of the standard of living of the people in Region 11,” Mayor said.
Francisco Tuyay, Sandy Araneta, Florante Solmerin
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday rejected the payment of a P50-million ransom to Abu Sayyaf Group for the release of their Indonesian captives.
The owner of the Indonesian tugboat that was seized by armed men off Tawi-Tawi recently was planning to give the amount to the ASG bandits just for them to release the captives.
Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said this is against the government’s no ransom policy and that military operations were ongoing to rescue the hostages.
The Abu Sayyaf bandits have also been holding hostage two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina, threatening to behead them if no ransom money was not delivered to them on April 25.
Abducted from a resort last year in the Island Garden City of Samal , the ASG had originally asked P1 billion each for the two Canadians and Norwegian or they will be beheaded. The ASG had reduced the ransom to P300 million each.