NPAs set to release 4 captives

DAVAO CITY — The New People’s Army (NPA) is reportedly set to release a Marine sergeant and three militiamen they have held captive since Sept. 4 last year in the mountains of Sultan Kudarat.

Former Justice Secretary and chief government negotiator Silvestre Bello III expressed optimism yesterday the communist rebels would soon release Marine S/Sgt. Jeremiah Rosete and his three companions who were suppose to have been freed last Feb. 7.

President Arroyo issued specific instructions that the stalled peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front (NDF), shall resume only if the captives were released.

Rosete, a member of the 3rd Marine Battalion Landing Team and militiamen Wilfredo Maldecir, Pepiyo Simbulan and Herminio Sorongon were snatched by NPA rebels belonging to the Valentin Palamine Command in Barangay Batal B’lao in the town of Colombio, Sultan Kudarat for reportedly serving as government spies.

Bello said their release was delayed because of a few remaining unresolved issues on the implementation of the suspension of military operations (SOMO).

The NDF has demanded for a SOMO in the provinces of Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat before the captives would be freed.

However, Bello said, the SOMO would only be in 11 towns located within the five provinces and that its scope does not cover the entire area.

"Just the 11 towns as the military also strongly objected to placing the five provinces under SOMO," he said.

The chief negotiator said the peace has yet to submit the proposal on the SOMO to the President.

"She still has to study it before she declares the SOMO," Bello stressed.