Army rejects NDF ceasefire offer for release of captured ComVal cop

From GMA News (Mar 25): Army rejects NDF ceasefire offer for release of captured ComVal cop

The Army has turned down a request from the National Democratic Front to cease offensive military operations to pave the way for the safe release of a police officer captured by the New People's Army on March 18.

In a statement issued Sunday night, NDF Southern Mindanao Chapter spokesperson Rubi del Mundo said the NDF has ordered the release of PO3 Ruben Nojapa Jr. of the Nabuntaran municipal police station in Compostela Valley on "purely humanitarian grounds."

"The release decision was based on purely humanitarian grounds in the wake of the appeal made by Nojapa’s family and peace advocates that have expressed support for a negotiated settlement within the bounds of international humanitarian law," del Mundo said.

According to a report on Davao Today, Nojapa's wife appealed to the NPA to release her husband.

The statement also enjoined the Army and "the US-Aquino regime’s provincial police force" to cease offensive military operations so that Nojapa can be released, a request which was rejected on Monday by the Army's 10th Infantry Division.

"We will not. If they want to release him, they can just simply release him and leave him anywhere [to] find his way [home]," said 10th ID commander Maj. Gen. Ariel Bernardo.

He also claimed that the rebels have been intensifying extortion activities in the past months, including the intimidation of candidates to collect "permit to campaign" and "permit to win" fees.

"Sad to say, they are doing a lot of intimidation, threats of extortion, including on the candidates…We cannot just allow them to do those things," he added.

Davao Today quoted Compostela Valley police chief Senior Superintendent Camilo Cascolan as saying a suspension of offensive police operations "is decided by the headquarters."

It also quoted Maj. Jake Obligado, chief of the 10th ID’s Civil-Military Operations, as saying last Thursday that they will not declare a suspension of offensive military operations. Obligado was quoted in the Thursday interview as saying the military "will not negotiate with the terrorists."

The NDF, which called Nojapa a prisoner of war in its statement, claimed the NPA "arrested" him on March 18 at a checkpoint in Barangay Mainit in Nabunturan. According to a report on the Mindanao Examiner, Nojapa's companion, SPO2 Randy Masambo, managed to escape.

Del Mundo said Nojapa, 50, is "well," with NPA medics administering his anti-hypertensive drugs and monitoring his blood pressure.

Del Mundo also said the NPA investigated Nojapa and found "no sufficient evidence" to prosecute him for "serious crimes ... against the Filipino people and the revolutionary movement."

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/300911/news/regions/army-rejects-ndf-ceasefire-offer-for-release-of-captured-comval-cop