KIDAPAWAN, North Cotabato ,Philippines – The New People’s Army released late Sunday afternoon two Army soldiers they snatched last April 14 while the two were carrying out peace and development mission in the town of President Roxas, North Cotabato.
The NPA’s custodial unit under the Herminio Alfonso Command in Southern Mindanao said they released Cpl. Delfin Sarocam and Pfc Jayson Valenzuela, both of the 57th Infantry Battalion for humanitarian reasons.
Sarocam and Valenzuela were released by the communist guerrillas in the hinterlands of Magpet, North Cotabato and were immediately brought to the Bishop’s Palace in Kidapawan City where they were turned over to North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza and Bishop Romulo de la Cruz.
The Army officers were kidnapped last April 14 in President Roxas town in North Cotabato while on their way to a school in Barangay Inda.The two were reportedly kidnapped to undergo a probe on their alleged human rights violations.
The governor welcomed the release of the two soldiers, attributing it to the cooperation shown by various sectors in urging the NPA to set them free.
“I would like to say that there was nothing given in exchange for the release of the two soldiers,” Taliño-Mendoza said.
Isabel Santiago, spokesperson for the Herminio Alfonso Command, said the two were released in response to the appeals made by their families and multi-sectoral groups.
The Army however refuted the NPA’s claim that it released the captives for humanitarian reasons, saying the rebels were pressured by its military operations.
Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, also claimed that the NPA released the two soldiers for media mileage.
“It’s a normal reaction for the NPA for their media publicity. Of course, for us, it’s normal because they are pressured by the operations we are conducting,” Asto said.
Asto said Valenzuela and Sarocam would be brought to the hospital for medical checkup even if they appear to be in normal condition. They will also undergo the usual debriefing given to freed captives.
Asto said they would be more careful in deploying troops to prevent kidnapping incidents in the future. He said they would no longer send soldiers in small groups.
“We will be more careful…Perhaps we should deploy a platoon so they (rebels) could no longer stage abductions,” Asto said.
He said abduction charges have been filed against the NPA rebels behind the abduction of the two soldiers. – With Alexis Romero