NDF open to negotiations for release of 3 officers, 2 soldiers

By GERALD LEIGH LAQUINON
with NITZ ARANCON
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents

THE National Democratic Front (NDF) on Tuesday announced that it would open communication lines to start negotiations for the release of the five policemen and soldiers held captive by rebels in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Norte two Sundays ago.

In a statement, Cesar Renerio, NDF spokesman for northcentral Mindanao, said the line for negotiations would be opened once the captives and their New People’s Army (NPA) custodial units can set themselves in safe places.

Renerio lauded Bishop Felixberto Calang, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano, and Talacogon Mayor Jezrel Masendo to start off the negotiations for the immediate, safe and orderly release of the policemen and soldiers.

“Their concern indeed mollified the worries of the respective families that asked for their help,” said Renerio.

The NPA seized SPO1 Warren Coñales, PO3 Edwin Castor, SPO4 Rene Rombo, and Pfcs. Glenn Austia and Diven Tawide in different towns in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Agusan del Norte when they set up roadblocks in April 3.

Renerio said the five captives he referred to as “POWs” (prisoners of war) would be released on condition that there would be a suspension of military and police operations during a certain time and in specific places.

“We can’t expect the immediate release of the POWs amid the incessant rescue and combat operations of the military and the police. It’s now up to the officials of the GPH, AFP and PNP,” said Renerio.

He added:“Sa among kabahin, dili na kinahanglang langanon pa ang pagelease sa mga POW kon  wala silay  seryosong kasonga giatubang o ipasaka sa katawhan batok kanila.”

The NDF statement was released days after police regional director Chief Supt. Lyndel Desquitado frowned over calls for the military and the police to suspend their operations against the NPA. He said it was like asking the Armed Forces and the National Police to stop doing their job, and go against their mandate.

Renerio also assured the families of the captives that they were safe and being taken care of.

He said the NPA received a supply of insulin for one of the captives, SPO1 Coñales, that were sent by his friends and relatives.

Coñales’s wife earlier pleaded to the rebels to consider the serious health condition of her diabetic husband and to release him ahead since he is insulin-dependent.

“We also have enough anti-hypertensive tablets for the two policemen, and they are all under the good care of our medics,” said Renerio.

Renerio promised to release video messages of the captives for their families soon.

He asked the families to understand the underlying reasons why the NPA captured the policemen and soldiers “since we are in a civil war wherein the ruling classes maintain their domination by using the fascist AFP and PNP.”

In such context, Renerio stressed the need for them to adhere to NPA policies and protocols of war before reaching the point of formally releasing the captives to the government through a third party group.

“We will notify the local third party facilitator and the local crisis committees in the days to come regarding the start of the negotiations for the release of the POWs,” said Renerio.

He also said that since last year, “POWs” in the region were no longer subjected to the normal long and meticulous revolutionary judicial proceedings as the NDF’s gesture of goodwill for the resumption of the peace talks with the government, and that it would also be the case for the five.

“We are much interested to resume the peace talks so that we can discuss how to solve the basic ills of the Philippine society which are really the root causes of the armed conflict across the country,” he said.