BUTUAN CITY—The New People’s Army (NPA) released on Wednesday the two policemen they abducted in Surigao del Norte over a month ago.
NPA guerillas freed Police Officers 2 Alfredo Degamon Jr. and John Paul Doverte after 36 days in captivity.
They were received by Surigao del Norte Vice Governor Carlos Egay and Surigao City Vice Mayor Alfonso Casura in Brgy. Mahanob, Gigaquit town, Surigao del Norte.
Degamon and Doverte were then brought to the Philippine National Police’s regional headquarters in Butuan City, where they were met by Police Chief Supt. Noli A. Romana, PNP-Caraga regional director, and BGen. Franco Nemesio Gacal, commander of the Army’s 402nd Brigade.
NPA guerillas posing as law enforcement agents snatched the two police officers from a police box in a busy intersection in Placer town, Surigao del Norte, on November 13.
Speaking to the media, Degamon said he was set to marry his girlfriend in January. He said their wedding may be postponed as he is about to undergo a long period of medication, debriefing and re-training.
Meanwhile, Doverte said his wife was four-months pregnant at the time of the abduction, and that he was overjoyed to gain his freedom before the birth of their new baby .
Superintendent Romana lauded the combined efforts of the government’s security forces, local government units, the crisis management committee of the Surigao del Norte, and the third party facilitators who negotiated the policemen’s release.
The PNP-Caraga chief also reiterated his condemnation of the NPA for the abduction incident, and reminded policemen throughout the region to be more vigilant. (Noel B. Najarro/PNA)
