AFP: Rescue of NPA-snatched Army officer to take time
By Gina P. Elorde
The Daily Tribune – www.tribune.net
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday admitted it will take some time and effort to rescue an Army corporal who was abducted by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Compostela Valley province early last week.
Cpl. Dominador Alegre, commander of the Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB), was abducted last Monday night while his men were paying their respects to their dearly departed that day, All Soul’s Day.
Before Alegre’s abduction, at least 16 suspected NPA rebels who posed as military soldiers attacked a detachment being manned by members of the paramilitary Citizens Armed Geographical Unit in New Kapatagan Village in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley around 5 p.m., Monday.
Before leaving the place, the rebels took 18 firearms, several rounds of ammunition, AFP uniforms and other belongings from the detachment.
In a statement posted on the Communist Party of the Philippines Web site, the NPA warned the military that the treatment of captured rebels and their families by members of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division has caused them to delay the safe release of Alegre.
NPA Southern Mindanao regional political spokesman Simon Santiago issued the statement that the NPA and its leadership in the National Democratic Front are discussing what to do with the captured military officer.
Santiago, though, assured that Alegre is in good health while being treated by the NPA as a “prisoner of war.”
But he also said the military’s continued “human rights abuses” in the course of their rescue operations are becoming a hindrance to Alegre’s early release.
“Human rights abuses committed by the AFP’s 7th Special Operations Company and the Army’s 25th IB against civilians in Monkayo, Compostela Valley continue to this day as they conduct their so-called rescue operations. Already, threats and harassments have mounted and civilian Eddie Tayag of Barangay Casoon was, without basis, arrested the other day,” Santiago claimed.
He said as in the past, the communist rebel movement has consistently shown that it is open to “well-meaning appeals for the release of (its) prisoners of war” but that the military’s “fascist arrogance” which it has shown through unwarranted acts of violence and intimidation against both civilian-and-suspected NPA supporters and rebels themselves have caused the prolonging of their captive’s release.
By Gina P. Elorde
The Daily Tribune – www.tribune.net
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday admitted it will take some time and effort to rescue an Army corporal who was abducted by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Compostela Valley province early last week.
Cpl. Dominador Alegre, commander of the Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB), was abducted last Monday night while his men were paying their respects to their dearly departed that day, All Soul’s Day.
Before Alegre’s abduction, at least 16 suspected NPA rebels who posed as military soldiers attacked a detachment being manned by members of the paramilitary Citizens Armed Geographical Unit in New Kapatagan Village in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley around 5 p.m., Monday.
Before leaving the place, the rebels took 18 firearms, several rounds of ammunition, AFP uniforms and other belongings from the detachment.
In a statement posted on the Communist Party of the Philippines Web site, the NPA warned the military that the treatment of captured rebels and their families by members of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division has caused them to delay the safe release of Alegre.
NPA Southern Mindanao regional political spokesman Simon Santiago issued the statement that the NPA and its leadership in the National Democratic Front are discussing what to do with the captured military officer.
Santiago, though, assured that Alegre is in good health while being treated by the NPA as a “prisoner of war.”
But he also said the military’s continued “human rights abuses” in the course of their rescue operations are becoming a hindrance to Alegre’s early release.
“Human rights abuses committed by the AFP’s 7th Special Operations Company and the Army’s 25th IB against civilians in Monkayo, Compostela Valley continue to this day as they conduct their so-called rescue operations. Already, threats and harassments have mounted and civilian Eddie Tayag of Barangay Casoon was, without basis, arrested the other day,” Santiago claimed.
He said as in the past, the communist rebel movement has consistently shown that it is open to “well-meaning appeals for the release of (its) prisoners of war” but that the military’s “fascist arrogance” which it has shown through unwarranted acts of violence and intimidation against both civilian-and-suspected NPA supporters and rebels themselves have caused the prolonging of their captive’s release.
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