Commies Free Ex-Soldier Kidnapped In Southern RP

NPADAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 24, 2008) – Communist rebels have freed a former government soldier kidnapped in the southern Philippines after more than two months in captivity.

The New People’s Army said it granted amnesty to Jose Manero - who was kidnapped in Davao City in May - after he apologized for all his crimes against the rebel group and victims of human rights in Mindanao.

“The Merardo Arce Command-New People's Army has granted a conditional amnesty to retired Master Sergeant Jose Manero and ordered his immediate release from custodial detention by the 1st Pulang Bagani Company-NPA.”

”This grant of conditional amnesty is based on his admission of guilt and issuance of a public apology for the crimes and serious violations of human rights he committed against the people and the revolutionary movement,” Rigoberto Sanchez, a rebel spokesman, said on Sunday.

He said the NPA has set three conditions for Manero’s amnesty and these were:

1. That heretofore, he would not undertake any act that would harm the people, cause damage to their lives and livelihood and violate basic human rights, especially to workers and peasants. 2. That he would no longer engaged in armed and other hostile actions against the NPA and the revolutionary movement, whether individually or jointly with the AFP, PNP, Intelligence and paramilitary units of the GRP. 3. That he would be truthful to his admission of guilt and issuance of public apology hereinafter.

But Sanchez warned that if Manero breaks any of the condition, the NPA would again put the former soldier on its own wanted list and punish him under the revolutionary legal system and judicial processes of the so-called People's Democratic Government.

Manero is the brother of Norberto Manero Jr., a former government militia leader, who was convicted of murdering Italian missionary Tulio Favali – a member of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions - in Mindanao’s North Cotabato province in April 1985.

Manero, who had accused the priest of being a communist supporter, was eventually released from prison last year. (Mindanao Examiner)