THE Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army again released on Saturday three policemen and one police employee who were abducted in Surigao City last month.
The Caraga regional police office identified the policemen as Senior Police Officer 3 Santiago Lamanilao, Police Officer 3 Jayroll Bagayas, Police Officer 2 Caleb Sinaca and civilian police employee Rodrigo Angub.
“The police force thanks the Surigao Crisis Management Committee and third-party facilitators who helped in the release of the three policemen and one civilian employee,” said Chief Inspector Charity Galvez.
On Friday morning, the CPP-NPA also released Police Officer 1 Richard Yu in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.
The policemen were released after the government and the National Democratic Front agreed on an indefinite unilateral ceasefire order to the NPA and their people’s militia.
The indefinite ceasefire capped the six-day marathon sessions of the resumption of peace talks between the government and the communist insurgents in Oslo, Norway from August 22 to 26.
The CPP-NDF-New People’s Army ceasefire will start Aug. 28 after the seven-day (August 21 – 27) ceasefire declared earlier by the NDF during the Oslo talks.
It was the highlight of the six agenda agreed by both panels at the end of the GRP-NDF round of talks.
In a statement, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the Oslo round is a milestone under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
It is an accomplishment that would be welcomed by the Filipino people, he said.
“Not only has President Duterte walked the extra mile. He has also taken a step back to give the NDF space under his democratic and inclusive government,” Dureza said.
Dureza said they are coming home with a promise of a just and lasting peace and our soldiers and the combatants of the NDF finally coming to terms that the war must end.
Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, head of the GRP negotiating panel, also expressed thanks and appreciation for the patience and candidness of their counterparts with whom he has been holding formal and backdoor negotiations for more than 14 years.