By FROILAN GALLARDO
Special Correspondent
with NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
TALAKAG, Bukidnon–A letter sent by Mayor Oscar Moreno to Camp Evangelista factored in Thursday’s release of PO2 Anthony Natividad in the outlying village of Dominorog here.
Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop Felixberto Calang said Natividad would have been released by the New People’s Army (NPA) earlier had the Army’s 4th Infantry Division issued a ceasefire declaration.
The absence of a ceasefire, he said, prompted him and others in the group of third party facilitators to seek the assistance of Moreno, who chairs the Regional Peace and Order Council in Northern Mindanao. The council covers Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte.
Sensing military reluctance to respond to the call of the NPA to stop military operations so they could release the policeman, Moreno wrote a letter, “Expressions of Aspirations,” appealing to the 4th Infantry Division to stop its operations in southern Bukidnon for the sake of humanity.
“It is the desire not only of the family of Natividad, but also of the people of affected communities in Bukidnon that he should be safely released,” Moreno wrote, adding that the “safe release of Natividad is a victory for peace.”
“We are happy that we had a successful outcome because we worked hard for his release,” Calang said.
Calang said Natividad was the third captured soldier and policeman to be released by the rebels.
Rebels captured Natividad at a checkpoint they set up along the highway here early this year. They also burned several trucks.
On Thursday, a small platoon of NPA rebels met the group of third party facilitators led by Moreno and Bishop Calang in Barangay Dominorog.
The rebels flanked Natividad as he walked with his hands restrained by a small iron chain, towards the Dominorog social hall, where he was turned over to the civilian monitors.
One of the rebels read a statement from NDF North Central Mindanao spokesperson Cesar Renerio who said Natividad’s release was pursuant to the statement of National Democratic Frony chair Fidel Agcaoili that all of their “prisoners of war” should be freed as early as March 2.
“Kami sa NDF-NCMR subling mopaabot sa kandaman nga buhian si PO2 Anthony Natividad sa pinakadaling panahon nga itugot,” Renerio said.
A rebel then took off the iron chain around the hands of Natividad and presented him to the facilitators.
Natividad, who was wearing a blue shirt with 1990 markings, had an emotional reunion with his family.
Bishop Calang said the rebels are set to release a soldier in Surigao del Norte this today.
President Rodrigo Duterte has set the release of all captured soldiers and policeman as one of his conditions for the resumption of peace talks with the communist rebels.
The fourth round of formal peace talks was held in The Netherlands from April 2 to April 6. The fifth round is scheduled in late May but the ceasefire committees are supposed to meet before then to discuss bilateral ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Camp Alagar has started subjecting PO2 Natividad to a loyalty check, stress debriefing and psychological examination, officials said.
Chief Supt. Agripino Javier, police director for northern Mindanao, said the stress debriefing and psychological examination are part of a normal process in the National Police for personnel taken captive by rebels.
Camp Alagar spokesman Supt. Lemwel Gonda said Natividad has also started undergoing a thorough medical check-up. So far, initial results show Natividad is well, he said.
Gonda said Natividad was also brought to the intelligence division of Camp Alagar in the hope of getting useful information from him and for a “background investigation.”
Gonda said the “background investigation” is also part of a loyalty check.
“Ang iyang investigation, igo lang pagsuta kon nganong nakidnap siya, gi-unsa siya pagkidnap, ug asa siya gidala sa mga nagkidnap niya, ug gi-unsa siya pag-tratar sa NPA,” he said.
Gonda said Chief Supt. Javier would likely allow Natividad to choose his next assignment when he is ready to report back to work.
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