Alagar: ‘We cannot stop anti-NPA opns’

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

CAMP Alagar has rejected calls by Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Bishop Felixberto Calang for government forces to suspend their operations against the New People’s Army (NPA) in the wake of the abductions of three policemen and two soldiers in northern Mindanao and its neighboring region Caraga over a week ago.

Chief Supt. Lyndel Desquitado, police director for Region 10, said neither the National Police nor Army officials can do what Calang wants them to do without going against their mandate.

Earlier, Calang called on Camp Alagar and Camp Evangelista to suspend government operations against communist guerrillas holding captive SPO4 Rene Rombo, SPO1 Warren Hansol Coñales, and PO3 Edwin Castor,  Pfcs. Glenn Austria and Diven Abion Tawide.

Rombo was seized in Talisayan, Misamis Oriental while Coñales and Cator were taken captive in  Bukidnon on Sunday. The same day, the NPA also seized Pfcs. Austria and Tawide of the 23rd Infantry Battalion in Buenavista in Agusan del Sur.

Calang said a suspension of the government offensives would allow a third party to negotiate for the release of the captives, and to prevent the captives and civilians from getting caught in the crossfires.

Desquitado however explained that the National Police and the military have been given the mandate to protect citizens against groups that pose threats to security.

He said only an order from decision makers in government such as those in the defense department can stop the military operations against the rebels.

Desquitado said the police and military were also given specific tasks by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which has been calling the shots since the start of the election period.

“Maka-violate usab kami sa tahas nga gihatag kanamo sa Comelec kon among undangon ang among police and military operations kay election period man karon, ug ang police ug military gi-deputized man sa Comelec aron  paghatag safety sa katawhan niining panahon sa election,” he said.

Desquitado however said the military and police would do their best to ensure the success of negotiations being planned by local crisis committees created in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon..