Army dares NPAs to release cop abducted in Compostela Valley

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 1): Army dares NPAs to release cop abducted in Compostela Valley

The military here challenged the New People’s Army (NPA) to immediately release Police Officer 3 Ruben Nojapa, who was abducted on March 18 in a checkpoint in Nabunturan town in Compostela Valley.

Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division, also insisted that there is no need to suspend military operation in the area as demanded by the National Democratic Front (NDF) to pave way for the safe release of Nojapa.

“There is no military operation to stop given that all basic activities of the soldiers are focused on the peace and development outreach program,” Paniza said.

He said the communist rebels were reportedly merely using the abducted policeman as an issue in their propaganda campaign.

“We are not looking or pursuing the rebels. They can release the captured policeman even without this condition,” he pointed out.

Last week, the NDF announced that it is set to release Nojapa but demanded “to cease its offensive military operations in Compostela Valley.”

NDF spokesperson Ruby del Mundo said the communist movement found no evidence that the policeman had committed “serious crimes against the Filipino people and the revolutionary movement.”

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=511908