Military ops delay release of captured Army soldier

By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondent

THE New People’s Army (NPA) has taken captured Pfc. Adonis “Jess” Lupiba to an undisclosed place far from Claveria town in Misamis Oriental because of fierce clashes between the Maoist guerrillas and soldiers.

Rebels were supposed to release Lupiba this month but the plan miscarried because of fierce encounters between the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion and guerrillas that broke out in Mat-i, Claveria in Sept. 29, said  Lorena Mangahas, a spokeperson of the rebel group operating in eastern Misamis Oriental.

Mangahas apologized for the delay in the release of Lupiba who was captured during a raid staged by the NPA in Gingoog City in July.

Mangahas said the Mat-i clash prompted the NPA custodial unit responsible for Lupiba to bring the soldier to a “far and safer place.”

The NPA spokesperson said the 58th IB has been conducting offensive and rescue operations every now and then, causing delays in Lupiba’s release.

Mangahas however assured Lupiba’s family that the soldier would be freed soon even as she lauded a third party group of facilitators and the local crisis committee for their efforts to secure Lupiba’s release during the last three months.

Mangahas said the NPA custodial unit is preparing to hand over Lupiba to the third party facilitators and the crisis committee formed by the capitol.

She said the day and venue of the release would be revealed to the committee soon after they receive a release order from the National Democratic Front (NDF).