NPA scuttles 2 soldiers’ release

TARLAC CITY — The two soldiers being held hostage by communist rebels in Bicol should have been freed last week, but ongoing combat operations by soldiers and policemen scuttled this, a rebel spokesman said yesterday.

Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, senior spokesman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said President Arroyo should order the military to comply with the procedures which government peace negotiators and rebel leaders agreed to for the safe and orderly release of 1Lt. Ronaldo Fedelino and Pfc. Ronnel Nemeno.

The two soldiers were seized by the New People’s Army’s Romulo Jallores Command after an encounter in Barangay Bataan in Tinambac town, Camarines Sur last March 1.

Earlier, the NPA said it was planning to free the two as a "birthday gift" to Fedelino’s daughter Alea Nicole, on Aug. 16.

The Armed Forces has refused to negotiate the two soldiers’ release with the "communist terrorists." — Benjie Villa, James Mananghaya