By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
CAMP Evangelista merely watched jailers as the capitolun prison facility released the highest ranking communist rebel leader in the region ever caught and detained in the city.
The Army’s 4th Infantry Division has accepted that four regional courts in northern Mindanao issued separate orders that granted Alfredo Mapano a.k.a. Ka Paris his temporary freedom so he could participate in the negotiations between the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the government in Oslo, Norway scheduled from Aug. 22 to Aug. 27.
Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, Camp Evangelista spokesman, said the military respected the rulings of the regional courts in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro.
Mapano was charged before the four courts with carnapping, murder, frustrated murder and robbery in band with homicide, among others.
Provincial jail warden Dominador Tagarda had Mapano released from the provincial jail at around 5 pm on Wednesday after Judge Florencia Abbu of the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 here signed the release order.
Three other judges in Malaybalay–Isobel Barroso, Teresita Camanong and Wlfredo Bibera Jr.–earlier issued similar orders.
Mapano posted in one of the regional courts in Malaybalay a bailbond of P100 thousand.
Capt. Martinez said there was nothing the military and police could do but respect the orders of the regional courts.
“Wala kitay mahimo diha except to respect the law,” Martinez said.
The court orders ended Mapano’s seven years of incarceration. The alleged leader of the rebel group in northern Mindanao was arrested while he was with his family at Middleton Apartelle in Barangay Carmen, this city, on Aug. 1, 2019.
Martinez said Camp Evangelista also acknowledges that Mapano has to participate in the Oslo talks because he has been listed as one of the peace negotiations consultants of the National Democratic Front (NDF).
Mapano spent the night with his family at the Archbishop’s Palace. Yesterday, he left for Europe.
Martinez however said the military was still hoping that Mapano would return to face his criminal cases.
“Kon dili na siya mobalik sa Pilipinas, lahi na pod na nga estorya but the military expects that he will come back, face the courts, and prove his claims that he is innocent,” Martinez said.
Camp Alagar spokesman Supt. Surki Sereñas said Mapano’s release came as a disappointment to the National Police, especially the police officers who worked hard and risked their lives to bring the rebel leader behind bars seven years ago.
“Subo gyud kaayo kana paminawon labi na sa apprehending officer kay ang pagdakop sa mga accused gihago-an ug maayo, gigastohan sa salapi ug panahon,” said Sereñas.
But Sereñas said the police, like the military, have no choice but respect the court orders.
“Bisan subo paminawon, pero wala gyud kitay mahimo ana kay ang iyang pag-post og bail aron man naka-adto siya sa Oslo alang sa peace negotiations nga programa usab sa atong gobyerno,” Sereñas said.
He said Mapano should return to face his cases, and not use the peace negotiations as scapegoat.
“Kon dili siya mopakita sa korte taliwala sa iyang temporary liberty, dakpon gihapon namo siya,” Sereñas said.
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