NPA rebels free Manero’s brother

DAVAO CITY – New People’s Army rebels released Sunday night the brother of priest-killer Norberto Manero after being held captive for more than three months.

Manero’s brother Jose, a retired Army M/Sgt., was abducted on May 11 by suspected NPA guerrillas belonging to the First Pulang Bagani Command led by Leoncio Pitao also known as Commander Parago. The victim, who was working as security consultant of the Lorenzo Farms, was snatched by rebels while accompanying his employer inspecting the pineapple plantation in Barangay Calinan, this city.

According to Southern Mindanao regional police director Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II, Manero was reportedly released to Fr. Ronnie Lamata at an undisclosed place near Calinan at around 10 p.m. Sunday.

Manero was reportedly immediately brought to his house at the Bayanihan military retirees village in Barangay Wangan, this city.

Sources said that Manero’s release could have happened earlier last week had the emissaries not been intercepted by the soldiers manning the checkpoints in the hinterlands of Calinan.

The two supposed emissaries were said to have been on board a motorcycle and were carrying with them the cash that was supposed to be the ransom in exchange for Manero’s release.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was among those who appealed for the early release of Manero just days after he was snatched by Pitao’s group.

But in a statement yesterday, NPA Southern Mindanao spokesman Rigoberto Sanchez said Manero was granted amnesty after he apologized for all his crimes against the rebel group and victims of human rights in Mindanao.

“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,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said three conditions were set for Manero’s amnesty and subsequent release including a promise that the former captive 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.

Manero was also warned that he should no longer engage in armed and other hostile actions against the NPA and the revolutionary movement, whether individually or jointly with the military, the police as well as the intelligence and paramilitary units of the government.

The communist guerrillas also demanded that Manero be truthful to his admission of guilt and issuance of public apology.