GIGAQUIT, Surigao del Norte -- Hundreds of people gathered in a small hinterland village here to witness the release of Private First Class Erwin Salan from the hands of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Saturday afternoon, April 29.
After three months in captivity, Salan of the Philippine Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion walked for another four days through the mountain trails of Surigao del Sur province, to be released to the custody of representatives from the Provincial Government in Barangay Camam-onan.
“The release is a show of goodwill towards the on-going peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). The prisoner should have been released last month but unfortunately due to the on-going military operation it was postponed and moved to this day,” said Rey Calaste known as Ka Oto, spokesperson of the NPA Front Committee 16.
Ka Oto pointed out that he prisoner was treated humanely and given proper treatment while in the care of their custodial force.
“I’m very thankful that I was not hurt or threaten inhumanely while I was in their custody. I was taken cared off as a prisoner of war and was even fed each day throughout the entire time I was held prisoner. I’m also very thankful to those who helped in my release especially to the third-party facilitators,” said Salan.
Salan added that escaping from his captors never crossed his mind and that he has no plans in filling a case as he is just happy to return to his family.
A heartwarming reunion came between Pfc Salan and his father, mother and brother after they hugged the released prisoner following his release.
Dr. Maria Isabel Makinano, provincial health officer of Surigao del Norte confirmed that the captive soldier was in good health after she examined him.
“I examined the soldier and based on this examination the patient is in good health both physically and mentally since he is coherent. From blood pressure, heart rate and breathing, everything is within normal limits. He also does not have any laceration or bruises in his body,” said Makinano.
Bishop Rey Timbang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) or the Philippine Independent Church who lead the third party facilitator expressed his hopes towards the release of Salan as a good means toward peace.
“There is a chance for lasting peace in our land if we find ways to achieve this, if only we try to find ways to talk in terms of peace. We support the peace talks and the president for his efforts towards peace, his term has not yet reached a year but there have already been four rounds of peace talks and several agreements had been signed between the Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. In fact this release of prisoner is part of that good will towards the talks and hopefully political detainees will also be released from the side of the government,” said Timbang.
On January 29, 2017, Salan was captured by members of the NPAs while conducting Community Organizing for Peace and Development (COPD) activity in Barangay Budlingin, Alegria, Surigao del Norte.
The NPA’s Front 16 has been known for several abduction and capture of police and soldiers in their area of operation in Surigao del Norte. On July 2016, three police officers and a civilian employee in the town of Malimono, Surigao del Norte were abducted while inside the cock fighting arena. They were released a month later in Surigao City.
On November 2014, NPA fighters seized two police officers from Alegria. They were released to then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte three months later in the hinterlands of Gigaquit town in Surigao del Norte.
On July 10, 2014, four police officers were captured by the NPA during a raid in the Alegria police station; they were released after 19 days in captivity.