Rebels demand no pursuit before release of police captives

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – The New People’s Army who took three policemen in Rodriguez, Rizal, on Saturday during an ambush that left one policeman killed and wounding two others, demand that police operation should be stopped before they negotiate for the release of their captives, authorities said.

“The rebels wanted to suspend the operation. They are using one cellphone and they texted the wife of one of the three hostaged policemen,” Police Superintendent Josemarta Paras, Calabarzon spokesman, told The Star. Paras confirmed that the three hostaged policemen – Inspector Rex Cuntapay, PO1 Alberto Umali and PO1 Marvin Agasen, are safe and unharmed in the hands of their captors.

But Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad, Calabarzon police director, said in a press conference that the police and military launched a hot pursuit operation against the NPA raiders. “We will continue conducting operation until they release our policemen,” Palad said. – Ed Amoroso