DAVAO CITY -- A police officer who was held hostage for 18 days by communist rebels holding talks with the government was freed Saturday, the rebel group said.
The release of police officer Jorge Sabatin came a day after retired army sergeant Mario Veluz was separately released in southern Philippines on Friday.
In a statement, the New People’s Army (NPA) said Sabatin has not committed any "serious violations to the revolutionary movement and the people."
Sabatin was captured in an NPA raid of a police outpost in Barangay Pulang Lupa, Trento, Agusan del Sur on February 1.
Sabatin’s reunion with his family could have happened earlier had the military and the police ceased their combat operations in the provinces of Compostela Valley, Agusan del Sur, and Davao Oriental, the rebel group said.
Last Friday, another NPA group released Veluz after a week in captivity.
Veluz was abducted in an NPA checkpoint along Davao-Bukidnon Highway on February 6. Veluz had been on combat duty in the Philippine Army for more than three decades.
Philippine government and the rebels declared a week-long unilateral ceasefire last week amid peace talks hosted by Norway in Oslo.
The rebels still hold a soldier who was captured during an NPA checkpoint in Barangay Maparat Compostela town last February 7.
Private First Class El Bryan Cañedo, 23, is still facing investigation for possible crimes committed against the revolutionary movement, the rebel group said. By Ben O. Tesiorna
