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Wife of abducted cop hopes to see husband soon

By Edwin Fernandez

September 25, 2017, 3:28 pm

COTABATO CITY -- The wife of a police officer seized by communist rebels in North Cotabato on Monday said she was happy over reporte that her husband was still alive as she hopes to see him soon.

Gigi Catalan, wife of Police Officer Bristol Catalan, said she has been asking the communist New Peoples’ Army to show proof her husband is alive and being treated well.

Over the weekend, the Mount Apo Sub-Regional Command of the Merardo Arce Command of the NPA-Southern Mindanao Region, posted on social media a video of Catalan, intelligence officer of Makilala municipal police office, who was abducted on August 16.

In the video, Catalan said he was treated well by the rebels and asked the military to halt offensives against the rebels until he is freed.

Rigoberto Sanchez, speaking for the communist rebels, said Catalan was considered a “prisoner of war” and will soon be freed.

He did not raise any demand in exchange for Catalan’s release.

Catalan was driving his sons to school 63 days ago in Barangay Katipunan, Makilala, North Cotabato when the NPA abducted him at gunpoint.

His service firearm was taken by the rebels.

Military officials said the abduction of Catalan was a retaliatory attack by the rebels after the Army succeeded in its anti-communist operations, including the recovery of 20 Armalite rifles and hand grenades as well as the arrest of an NPA sub-commander in Makilala, North Cotabato. (PNA)

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