AFP won't negotiate with 5 soldiers' NPA abductors

MANILA, Philippines - The military on Wednesday called on the communist rebels to unconditionally release the five soldiers they kidnapped in Davao City.

“If they (rebels) are really concerned with the community they are fighting for, they should release the soldiers who are helping that very community without any condition,” Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.

“We will not negotiate with this terrorist group that abducted our soldiers,” Zagala added.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr. said they have not received any demand from the New People’s Army (NPA) members behind the kidnapping.

“We will not request for any concession,” he said.

Five soldiers involved in development projects were kidnapped by NPA members last Monday while buying food in Paquibato district in Davao City.

Abducted were Cpl. Emmanuel Quezon, Pfcs. Ronald Gura, Bernie Padilla, and Donato Estandia and Pvt. Marteniano Pasiagas Jr. Officials said the kidnapped soldiers were unarmed and were in civilian attire. A certain 1Lt. Neven Canitan was able to evade the abductors.

The NPA’s 1st Pulang Bagani Battalion based in Southern Mindanao declared the kidnapped soldiers as “prisoners of war.”

In a statement, the NPA said their operations were meant to punish the military “for continuing to encroach, settle and conduct psychological warfare and intelligence operations in all villages of Paquibato District.”

The rebels also accused the soldiers of militarizing the local communities by regulating the movement of civilians.

Meanwhile, the military is now pursuing the NPA rebels who attacked an agro-industrial firm in Agusan del Sur and killed five of its workers.

“We are conducting these operations to ensure we can make the rebels answer for their crimes like the killing of five innocent civilians and burning of equipment,” Zagala said.

Tutaan said the actions of the insurgents constituted violation of human rights.

“We call on all sectors to condemn this act by the NPA because this is clearly a violation of human rights. The (victims are) non combatants,” he said.

An undetermined number of rebels attacked the agro-industrial firm Shenna Lyne Corporation, shot dead five of its workers and burned five of its heavy equipment.

Officials believe the incident was related to the rebels’ extortion activities.