AFP: No talks for release of 5 kidnapped soldiers

From ABS-CBN (Jun 19): AFP: No talks for release of 5 kidnapped soldiers

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said no negotiations are ongoing for the release of five soldiers who were abducted by New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Davao City on Monday.

"We do not negotiate with this terrorist group that abducted our soldiers," said AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala on Wednesday.

Zagala said the soldiers should be released without any condition if their captors are sincere in its drive to protect the community.

"We ask them (rebels) that if they are really concerned for the community that they are fighting for, they should release our soldiers who are helping that very community," he said.

"We are conducting operations to bring the perpetrators to justice and to rescue our personnel," he added.

Cpl. Emmanuel Quezon, Pfcs. Ronald Gura, Bernie Padilla and Donato Estandia, and Pvt. Marteniano Pasiagas Jr. were abducted by armed rebels wearing military uniforms at a roadblock in Paquibato district.

The soldiers were reportedly on their way to buy supplies for a feeding program when they were stopped.

A sixth soldier, identified as 1Lt. Neven Canitan, was able to escape.

The NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command claimed responsibility for the incident, saying it was the military's punishment "for continuing to encroach, settle and conduct psychological warfare and intelligence operations in all villages of Paquibato District."

"Under the guise of peace and development, the (military) has completely militarized the farmer and Lumad populace by regulating the movement of the civilian populace and abusing the masses," the NPA said in a statement.

Meanwhile, five civilian workers were killed in a separate rebel attack in Shenna Lyne Corp, a firm engaged in planting acacia mangium trees for paper production on Tuesday morning.

Zagala said soldiers have been deployed in Esperanza town in Agusan del Sur to pursue the rebels.

"The incident is not a form of armed struggle but an outright criminal act. Their armed struggle has degenerated to criminal acts which put innocent civilian lives in danger, and cause serious damage to their livelihood," said Zagala.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/06/19/13/afp-no-talks-release-5-kidnapped-soldiers