Duterte turns over two kidnapped policewomen to PNP’s Albayalde

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday personally turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) the two policewomen released by the Abu Sayyaf group earlier this week.

In a statement, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said Duterte turned over Police Officer 2 Benierose Alvarez and Police Officer Dinah Gumahad to Director General Oscar Albayalde at 3:30 p.m. in Davao City.

The PNP said in the statement that the two policewomen, who were abducted last April 29 in Patikul, Sulu, were released by their abductors to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Barangay Buanza, Indanan town.

It assured that "no ransom was paid" for the release of the two policewomen.

In photos posted on Facebook by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari was present during the turnover in Davao City.

In a separate statement, the OPAPP said Misuari was "reportedly personally requested earlier by the President to help in [the policewomen's] safe return."

Albayalde had said that they are suspecting that the Abu Sayyaf's "Ajang-Ajang" arm was responsible for the abduction of the two policewomen.

He said the Abu Sayyaf may have been released Alvarez and Gumahad due to the police and the military's pressure. —ALG, GMA News