Military ignores NPA truce demand for 4 captive cops

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Armed Forces refuses to give in to the demand of the New People’s Army (NPA) that the military suspends its operations in Surigao del Norte and the Agusan provinces to pave the way for the release of four police officers seized in Alegria, Surigao del Norte last week.

“That’s nothing. Our operations will continue. If they want to release their policemen hostages, they should release them without condition,” said Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

The policemen were snatched as the NPA guerrillas were withdrawing after swooping down on the Alegria police station. Two rebels were killed in the ensuing firefight.

The captive policemen, believed brought to the hinterlands of Surigao del Sur, were identified as PO3 Vic Concon and PO1s Rey Morales, Joen Zabal and Edito Roquino. Two of them belong to the Alegria police, and the two others are from the Provincial Police Safety Battalion based in Kitcharao town.

Visaya ordered military units in Surigao del Norte to continue with their operations in spite of the NPA demand.

“They don’t want to be caught, that’s why they are asking us to stop our pursuit operations,” Visaya said.

Provincial authorities have formed a crisis management committee to address the situation of the captive police officers.