Davao city mayor Rodrigo Duterte facilitates the release of policemen and soldiers. File

DAVAO CITY - President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he would not negotiate for the release of a Davao Oriental police official abducted by communist rebels and accused of being involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Duterte said he was able to talk a certain "Commander Queen" of the New People's Army (NPA) and the latter claimed that Governor Generoso Police Station head Chief Insp. Arnold Ongachen was caught with shabu.

“I was talking to Queen, he is the guy in charge. He would not lie to me. Sabi niya na nahulihan daw. They raided the station because of the numerous complaints of residents in the area that shabu was being peddled over there by the policemen,” Duterte said.

Duterte said he would leave the fate of Ongachen to the Reds.

"You have a kangaroo court there, you try him and sentence him to 20 years of hard labor," Duterte said. "I’m sorry for that guy. I leave his fate to the NPAs."

More than 70 armed men attacked the police station in Governor Generoso police station last Sunday.

Ongachen and his men were able to hold their position but ran out of bullets after an hour, allowing the rebels to enter the station and take all the firearms.

The NPA also claimed that Gov. Cora Malanyaon and Rep. Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental are aware of the illegal drugs trade in the town.