Compostela rebels free 2 soldiers

DAVAO CITY – New People’s Army (NPA) rebels released yesterday morning two Army soldiers who were abducted last April 25 in Monkayo, Compostela Valley.

Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II, Southern Mindanao police director, said the communist guerrillas released Army S/Sgts. Huberto Corbita and Napoleon Gerasmio to Compostela Valley Gov. Arthur Uy in remote Sitio Salvacion Valma in Barangay Ngan, Compostela town.

Caro said Gerasmio and Corbita were seized last April 25 by rebels led by a certain Ka Lalay of the NPA’s Conrado Heredia Command-Front 20 in Barangay Upper Ulip in Monkayo town while they were on the way to the gold-rush site on Mt. Diwalwal.

Uy confirmed the release of the two soldiers to him, saying he was glad the problem was over.

“I was there. They were released to me at around 10:30 this morning (May 6),” Uy told The STAR. “I’m very happy and I’m thankful this episode has ended.”

STAR sources said certain politicians negotiated the release of Corbita and Gerasmio since the military has maintained a “no ransom, no negotiation” policy.

“I hope there will be no more like this. It is very traumatic for the families,” Uy said.

Uy immediately turned over the two soldiers to Lt. Col. Bienvenido Datuin and their families at the Comval Restaurant in neighboring Nabunturan town.

Corbita and Gerasmio will reportedly undergo debriefing with the intelligence units of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division based here.

Uy quoted the two soldiers as saying that they were treated humanely while in captivity.