Noy to NPA: Stop abductions to show sincerity in peace talks

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino urged yesterday communist rebels to show their sincerity in the search for peace by not engaging in kidnapping operations.

“Of course they (New People’s Army) should show the right gesture,” he told reporters during the celebration of the 110th anniversary of the police service at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Aquino, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, issued the statement after NPA rebels kidnapped Mayor Henry Dano of Lingig, Surigao del Sur and his two military bodyguards last Aug. 6.

The two seized soldiers were identified as Pfc. Roland Saban and Cpl. Alrey Desamparado.

The guerrillas abducted the mayor while Alex Padilla, chief government negotiator with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front, was meeting with rebel negotiator Fidel Agcaoili.

Aquino, however, refused to say whether it could be viewed as treachery on the part of the rebels, adding that he still has to discuss the issue with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles.

“We were concentrating on the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) issue prior to this. We’ll finish with our meeting first,” said Aquino.

Authorities said no contact has been made with the abductors of Dano.

“No update yet, they (NPA rebels) are still on the run and (there) is no contact so far,” said Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Rafal, Caraga police director.

Maj. Gen. Victor Felix, commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said police and military units were tracking the NPA rebels who kidnapped Dano and his two security personnel.

Two soldiers were killed and four others, including a militiaman, were wounded when NPA rebels ambushed the victims and detonated a landmine in Lingig town two hours after the kidnapping.

At least 30 fully armed men onboard three vehicles arrived at the house of Dano in Barangay Lawan, Lingig town Saturday morning.

One of the suspects, who was wearing a barong tagalog, knocked on the mayor’s gate and introduced himself as a National Bureau of Investigation agent.

The armed men disarmed Dano’s bodyguards and then seized two of them and the mayor. They fled toward Boston, Davao Oriental.

The Surigao del Sur provincial government has formed a crisis management committee headed by Gov. Johnny Pimentel to oversee the kidnapping case.

The military condemned the kidnapping, saying it constituted a violation of human rights.

Brig. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario, Armed Forces’ Civil Relations Service chief, said the NPA should stop conducting operations against non-combatants.

“Kidnapping is a criminal act. They (NPA) should release the mayor. They should stop targeting civilians, especially local officials,” he said.

Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. said while the military supports the peace process, the kidnappings staged by the NPA cast doubt on their sincerity.

“If they were really in command, why is it that on one hand the leaders are arranging peace talks and on the other their subordinates are conducting kidnappings? It is evident that there are discrepancies here,” Parlade said. – With Alexis Romero