NPAs free Davao cop

DAVAO CITY – Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels released a rookie policeman Thursday night, two days after they seized him and his superior in Boston, Davao Oriental.

The guerrillas, belonging to the Front Committee 20 of the NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Command, however, killed the superior of freed PO1 Ruel Balmores, Inspector Jonnel Belenson, police chief of Boston town, for resisting their attempt to take them hostage last Tuesday.

Belenson and Balmores were reportedly on their way to the adjacent town of Baganga on board a motorcycle to testify in an illegal drug case when the rebels accosted them.

Superintendent Jimmy Manabat, Davao Oriental police director, confirmed Balmores’ release in Boston town, saying he is now in the custody of the provincial police.

Manabat said Balmores was brought from Boston to the provincial police headquarters in the capital, Mati City, by GMA-7 reporter John Paul Seniel and his cameraman.

Manabat said Balmores still has to undergo debriefing after his ordeal in the hands of the NPA rebels.

Seniel said Balmores seemed to be in good health when the rebels handed him over to them.

Seniel was reportedly accompanied by a priest and an official of the Association of Barangay Councils of neighboring Cateel town when Balmores was released to them.

Manabat denied reports that at least P300,000 was paid for Balmores’ release.

“We do not pay money in exchange for the release of our policemen,” Manabat said.

Seniel himself told The STAR that no one among those who accompanied him in fetching Balmores would confirm the reported payoff.