Release officer or face Army's full might, Compostela guerrillas told

The Army yesterday vowed to use its full might to rescue an officer still being held captive by communist rebels in Compostela Valley, a spokesman said.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Army spokesman, said an “all-out” military operations would be launched if the New People’s Army (NPA) fails to release Lt. Vicente Cammayo of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion by yearend.

The NPA released PO3 Eduardo Tumol to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and her vice mayor, daughter Sara, the other day, but left Cammayo still under their custody.

“They released the policeman. They might release Lt. Cammayo by the end of the month. We will wait and see. If they do not release him, we will go all-out,” Brawner said.

He said men of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion did not go on a holiday break in sympathy for their comrade.

The Army earlier urged the NPA to release Cammayo during the Yuletide truce to show its sincerity in fulfilling its promise to free him when the military suspends its combat operations in the area.

Brawner said the NPA should release the officer during the four-day suspension of military operations (SOMO) that the government declared in the spirit of Christmas.

But he clarified that the SOMO declaration was not meant to give in to the NPA’s demand, but a gesture that the government has traditionally observed even in previous years.

The Army earlier denied reports that Cammayo had died in the hands of his captors, saying this information had been verified and proven negative.

The National Democratic Front in Mindanao earlier had assured Cammayo’s family that he was safe and was being taken care of.