By Ben O. Tesiorna
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DAVAO CITY — The New People’s Army (NPA) released retired Master Sergeant Jose Manero on Sunday evening after 103 days in captivity.
Manero is the elder brother of Norberto Manero alias Kumander Bucay, the controversial convicted priest killer.
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The freed sergeant was reportedly turned over by the rebels to Fr. Ronnie Lomata on August 24 around 10 p.m.
The group of Kumander Parago abducted Manero on May 11 from the farm of his employer Raffy Lorenzo. Lorenzo was also taken by the rebels but was released soon after in an area not far from his Calinan farm.
Manero is said to be in his house in Calinan. He is now resting and reunited with his family.
The NPA’s Merardo Arce Command meantime said that Manero was granted a “conditional amnesty,” thus his release from custodial detention by the 1st Pulang Bagani Company.
“This grant of conditional amnesty is based on his (Manero) admission of guilt and issuance of a public apology for the crimes and serious violations of human rights he committed against the people and the revolutionary movement,” the NPA said in a statement.
“These crimes and violations were committed when he was still on active duty as an enlisted personnel of the Philippine Army-Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and acted as detachment commander in various areas in Davao City and elsewhere, particularly in Barangay Callawa, Davao City,” it added.
The NPA said Manero vowed to abide by three conditions that led to the grant of the amnesty. These are:
1. He would not undertake any act that would harm the people, cause damage to their lives and livelihood and violate basic human rights, especially to workers and peasants.
2. He would no longer engage in armed and other hostile actions against the NPA and the revolutionary movement, whether individually or jointly with the AFP, PNP (Philippine National Police), Intelligence and paramilitary units of the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines).
3. He would be truthful to his admission of guilt and issuance of public apology hereinafter.
“In the event that Jose Manero deliberately and directly violates any single provision of this conditional amnesty, the same shall be automatically revoked. And as a consequence, his name shall be reinstated in the NPA’s standing order for his re-arrest, trial and subsequent imposition of appropriate penalties consistent with the revolutionary legal system and judicial processes of the People’s Democratic Government,” the rebel group said.
With Manero’s release, the rebels said they hope he would now lead “a life respectful of human rights, remold himself and disengage from further anti-people and counter-revolutionary undertakings.” (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
