DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A deputy police chief in North Cotabato was held as prisoner of war for being involved in the government’s counterinsurgency operation, a spokesperson of the New People’s Army said.

NPA’s Mt. Apo Sub-Regional Command arrested Police Inspector Menardo Nisperos Cui last December 28 in Barangay Poblacion, Pres. Roxas in North Cotabato.

“He is currently being investigated for his counterinsurgency activities and possible crimes against the masses and the revolutionary movement,” Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson of NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command, said in a statement on Friday.

Cui, 48, is the designated Deputy Police Chief of Pres. Roxas Municipal PNP. Seized from his possession was a 9 mm pistol, the NPA spokesperson said.

Cui’s alleged active involvement in the government’s war against the communist rebels pushed the NPA to arrest and investigate him to find out any culpability of rights violations.

Sanchez said that Cui was accorded with humane treatment and leniency befitting his status as POW.

“Under guerilla conditions, he is treated with leniency and provided with all basic needs in accordance to NPA rules of discipline, the CARHRIHL and other international conventions,” he said.

The NPA in Southern Mindanao released a video with Cui sharing his experiences while under the custody of the communist rebels.

In the video, Cui commended the humane treatment accorded to him by the NPA. He also appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to resume the stalled peace talks between the government and the communists.

Cui also asked the military’s leadership to suspend the military operations to make way for his release.

His arrest came as the NPA decried the illegal arrest of three farmers in Magpet town in North Cotabato on Jan. 9.

A combined forces of the Army’s 39th, 15th Infantry Battalions including the Philippine National Police simultaneously conducted what Sanchez described as “unlawful search” of civilians dawn Tuesday at Barangay Balite.

Sanchez identified the arrested farmers as Jarold Adiaton, Jean Solis and Datu Maylan Andas—all are residents from in Brgy. Balite and Brgy. Temporan in Magpet town, North Cotabato.

“Residents have reported missing possessions after soldiers stormed and rummaged their houses while some civilians were physically assaulted and held at gunpoint,” he said.

“The families of Adiaton and Solis said that the soldiers planted improvised explosives during their search as an excuse to arrest the two farmers. In desperation, the fascist AFP are falsely accusing Adiaton and Solis of being members of the NPA and interrogating them on the whereabouts of POW Cui,” he added. (davaotoday.com)