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| Southeast Asia |
| NPA releases captive Philippine soldier |
| 2015-11-22 |
| [SunStar] A Philippine soldier captured by New People's Army militants in a raid in Gingoog City last July, was released on Friday in a remote village in Misamis Oriental after 133 days in captivity. A frail Adonis Jess Lupiba was formally turned over by a rebel custodian unit backed by some 200 insurgents to a group composed of third party negotiators and Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny "Bambi" Emano, chair of the local crisis committee. On Saturday, Lupiba was given a hero's welcome and was promoted to the next rank as Army Corporal for his heroism during the July raid. Recalling the circumstances of his capture, Lupiba said he holed himself up inside a police outpost during the raid and refrained from firing his weapon for fear of hitting civilians. Lupiba said it had taken them a week of walking before reaching the village where he was later released. He said he was shuttled between four militant camps to keep him away from Philippine troops. Lupiba said he was kept in handcuffs attached to a chain during the length of his captivity. He said he had almost given up on being released but said prayers kept his hopes up during the rough periods. Lupiba said he spent six hours a day, five days a week listening to lectures about the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. NPA spokesman Ka Allan Juanito said Lupiba was set to be released some two months ago if not for military operations. |
| Posted by:ryuge |