3 hostaged cops safe, NPA assures families

MANILA, Philippines — Three policemen taken hostage by the New People's Army (NPA) in an ambush in Rizal province last weekend are safe, communist rebels assured their families Tuesday. National Democratic Front of the Philippines Rizal spokesman Arman Guerrero said Police Inspector Rex Contapay, PO1 Albert Umali and PO1 Arvin Didasin are being treated as prisoners of war. We guarantee the families …that they are safe and being treated according to the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (Carhrihl) and the Protocol II of the Geneva Convention)," Guerrero said in a statement on the Communist Party of the Philippines website (www.philippinerevolution.net). He said the revolutionary government wants to facilitate the release of the three but the government, police and military should "cooperate." Guerrero said he has warned Rizal residents to be vigilant against attempts to "rescue" the three, who were taken hostage after the ambush in Rodriguez town. - GMANews.TV