Two freed Army soldiers undergoing debriefing

A day after being released by communist guerrillas from the dense jungles of the Bicol Region, Army 1Lt. Ronaldo Fidelino claimed he survived the ordeal by thinking of reuniting with his two-year-old daughter.

"What inspired me to live through and survive the harsh conditions of being kept hostage was the thought of seeing my daughter Alliyah Nicole, particularly when during her birthday last August 17, I heard her calling out for me over the radio," Fidelino said in Filipino.

Fidelino claimed that in his five months and 18 days of being held captive by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas, he remained handcuffed along with another hostage, Pfc. Ronel Nemeño.

He narrated their life in the jungle, living mostly on bananas and sweet potato (kamote) for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

And most of the time, Fidelino said, they were on the run to evade the military in the midst of rescue operations.

According to Fidelino, he weighed 65 kilograms before he and Nemeño were captured by the rebels last March 1.

The Army officer, after he was examined by doctors at Fort Bonifacio yesterday, said he lost 10 kilograms because of the intense conditions in the jungle while being constantly on the run.

Expressing his gratitude to President Arroyo for his release, Fidelino said he would request his superiors to reassign him back to the Bicol Region and put his new knowledge to the test.

"I have discovered for myself how the NPA operates in the region while being held captive. I want to be assigned back to the Bicol Region to serve the government and maybe convince the rebels to go down and live a new life," Fidelino said.

Fidelino and Nemeño – both in their dirty fatigue uniforms and still unshaven – were presented to the President yesterday in Cebu City.

Both soldiers were flown directly to Cebu where they were formally presented to Mrs. Arroyo by outgoing Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Army chief Lt. Gen. Efren Abu.

"Once again to our two young men here, welcome back. To everybody concerned, congratulations," Mrs. Arroyo said after returning a snappy salute to the former hostages.

Abu said both soldiers will undergo the standard military debriefing, medical and physical therapy before being allowed to take the much-needed quality time with their families.

Abu assured the two soldiers they would be reassigned to active duty with their mother units.

Both soldiers were formally turned over Wednesday by the NPA rebels to government negotiators and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Presentacion, Camarines Sur.

Fidelino and Nemeño were finally released after more than three weeks of negotiations by a team of negotiators led by Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya.

"I thank God for the safety of these soldiers and for the peace of mind that has been restored to their loved ones. I particularly congratulate Camarines Sur Congressman Rolando Andaya Jr. and his group for the initiative," the President said.

"The nation especially our men in uniform will be forever be grateful to you Nonong (Andaya) and your group," she added.

Mrs. Arroyo said the safe release of the two soldiers "culminated the patient efforts of a concerned group that continues to have faith in our people’s capacity to get rid of the obstacles to national unity and peace."