DAVAO City — The New People’s Army (NPA) in Northern Mindanao has deferred the release of the alleged 16 prisoners of war due to the intensified joint offensive operations by the police and the military, an NPA spokesperson said.
Ka Sandra Sidlakan, spokesperson of NPA Guerilla Front 21 North Eastern Mindanao Region, in a Radyo ni Juan interview aired on Jan. 2, said they weren’t able to push through with the release of POWs during the holiday season because of the military and police continued operations.
Sidlakan said for them to release the POWs, government forces should implement suspension of military operations.
“There need to have a Suspension of Military Operations and Suspension of Police Operations in order for a formal release of the prisoners of war with the help of a third-party facilitator,” Sidlakan said.
The communist rebels captured 14 Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) members and two soldiers belonging to the Army’s 3rdSpecial Forces Battalion during a raid in a Cafgu detachment in New Tubigon, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur early morning on Dec.19.
The NPAs also seized high powered firearms from the detachment.
Sidlakan said all POWs were treated well while they were in their custody. The communist rebels urged the families of the POWs and the public to urge the military to temporarily suspend their operations for the POWs’ safe release. (davaotoday.com)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
