Duterte helps release of soldier, cop in Comval

DAVAO CITY (Updated) - Police and military officials expressed gratitude to Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s intervention in the rescue operation of two abducted law enforcers who were released on Thursday in Compostela Valley.

Superintendent Alden Delvo, Police Regional Office (PRO) Davao spokesman, and Lieutenant Colonel Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson for the 10th Infantry Division (10th ID), thanked Duterte for interceding in the release of Private First Class Jezreel Culango and Police Officer 1 Ruel Pasion.

DAVAO. PO1 Ruel Pasion could not contain his emotion as he is brought to a waiting ambulance that will ferry him to a clinic at Police Regional Office at Camp Catitipan in Buhangin, Davao City for medical check-up after he was released unharmed by New People's Army rebels, who held him captive for 34 days. (Seth delos Reyes)

The New People's Army (NPA) released the victims to Duterte in Compostela Valley on Thursday after 34 days in captivity. In 2010, Duterte also called for the release of an ailing soldier the rebels seized in Compostela Valley.

Pasion was dropped off at the PRO Davao Region headquarters at Camp Catitipan, Buhnagin while Culango was delivered to the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) headquarters at the Camp Felix Apolinario in Panacan.

Pasion and Culango were abducted by some 30 heavily-armed NPA rebels in Barangay Imelda in Laak, Compostela Valley last January 17.

Pasion is assigned in San Isidro Police Station while Culango is detailed with the 60th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army.

Delvo said Pasion will undergo a post-traumatic stress debriefing, mental and physical examinations before reuniting with his family.

He added that they will be relying on the results of the physical and mental examinations before they reactivate Pasion.

Paniza, meanwhile, said Culango will also undergo the same process and exams at the hospital of Camp Felix Apolinario.

"He will undergo a medical examination and a stress debriefing. We will also give him a chance to be with his parents. Hopefully, tomorrow we will find out what happened to them while they were at the hands of the NPA)," Paniza said.

The police and the military are set to file kidnapping charges against the communist rebels.

Paniza said the abduction was a clear violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. (Ruji Peter S. Abat of Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)