NPA to free ‘POWs’ despite leader’s fall

By GERALD LEIGH LAQUINON
and BEN SERRANO

THE National Democratic Front (NDF) in northcentral Mindanao yesterday said it would release two captive soldiers as scheduled despite the arrest of a senior leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Agusan del Sur on Monday.

Two police officers held captive in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon were reportedly released by the NPA at 4 pm yesterday. Details are unclear at presstime.

In a statement, the NDF said the arrest of Ricardo Manili a.k.a. Ka Joker in Barangay Remedios, Esperanza town would not affect plans for the formal release of Pfcs. Diven Tawide and Glen Austria this week of which Manili is supposed to officiate.

Police said the 62-year old Manili is commander of the NPA operational command in Caraga, the “Julito Tero Command,” and was the 4th most wanted person in Caraga.

Police director for Caraga Chief Supt. Rolando Felix said Manili was caught at a checkpoint set up by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), police and the military in order to enforce election laws.

He said Manili has pending criminal cases in courts, ranging from two counts of rebellion, two counts of murder, robbery with homicide, two counts of multiple murder, and arson.

Police said Manili had six companions–a woman and five men–at that time but none of them were presented to reporters during a news conference.

Authorities said Manili’s group yielded a homemade shotgun, a caliber .45 pistol, a caliber 9mm pistol, an improvised explosive device, a grenade, two blasting caps, three bolos, three magazines, ammunition, medical kits, subversive documents, and personal belongings.

“The release of the two soldiers belonging to the 23rd Infantry Battalion will proceed as scheduled despite the arrest of Ka Joker,” said Cesar Renerio, NDF regional spokesperson.

Tawide and Austria were captured by the NPA at a roadblock it manned last April 3.

Manili, a leader of the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 4-B, was arrested by the joint forces of the Caraga Regional Police Office and members of the Regional Peace and Safety Battalion while he was in a van together with some civilians.

“We are hoping that the military and police will reciprocate the proper treatment our NPA custodial units give to our prisoners of war by treating Manili accordingly, especially that he is suffering from a relatively serious illness,” said Renerio.

Manili is said to be suffering from emphysema of the lungs.

“He has been attended by his young relatives who operate his nebulizer and other apparatuses when his illness attacks. If the government can provide the needed medical attention, there will be no more reason to detain the civilians,” said Renerio.

He said the police should not implicate the civilians, including the driver of the van, after they receive the P4.9-million bounty for the arrest of Manili.

Meanwhile, Renerio decried the alleged “overkill and blatant planting of evidence,” including explosives, rifle, and blasting caps, among others, to justify the arrest of Manili.

“We can only hope that the resumption of the peace talks with the administration of next president can release Ka Joker and the rest of the political prisoners,” concluded Renerio. (with a report from bing tenorio)