Army demands release of soldier held by NPAs

The Army yesterday demanded the immediate release of a junior officer, who was held captive by Communist rebels after being wounded in a clash in Compostela Valley last week, to assure his family that he is safe.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, army spokesman said that while they are calling for the release of Lt. Vicente Cammayo, troops would press on with the hunt for his captors, who, in a recent statement, claimed that the officer is allegedly undergoing investigation for various human rights violations and other alleged crimes.

Brawner, however, denied this, saying Cammayo’s actions were done in accordance with his mandated duties as a military officer.

“He was only doing his job as a legitimate military officer and member of the only authorized organization to use force and weapons and that is the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Army,” he said.

Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, AFP public affairs office chief said in a separate interview that the military would not negotiate with the NPA for Cammayo’s release, but assured his family the troops involved in the pursuit operations against his captors would ensure the officer’s safety.

“Our primary objective is to get back Lt. Cammayo safely without of course, sacrificing our stand against the NPA rebels,” he said.

Cammayo, assigned with the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, was reported missing after figuring in a clash with guerillas in Barangay Anagase in Monkayo town last week.

Three soldiers and a militiaman were killed in the said firefight. The troops also lost an M-60 machine gun, an M-14 rifle, and radio equipment.