[Mindanao Examiner] Five policemen taken prisoners by Maoist militants have appealed for their lives following a massive military shelling of New People's Army strongholds in the southern Philippines. NPA spokesman Rigoberto Sanchez said the "prisoners of war" are being held by the NPA's 1st Pulang Bagani Command.They were seized on April 16 in Davao City's Paquibato district where rebels attacked and overran an army post.
The insurgents also released videos of the prisoners which showed the policemen appealing to the Philippine government to halt the military shelling and suspension of police operations in Davao for fear they would be killed in the continuing assault.
The NPA called the military assault and police operations "lunatic and fruitless rescue offensives in Paquibato district."