An image grabbed from a new video of Army privates Jerrel Yorong(left) and Marnel Cinches in NPA captivity
Two Army soldiers held captive by the New People’s Army in Mindanao have renewed an appeal for a suspension of offensive military operations to pave the way for their release.
Privates First Class Marnel Cinches and Jerrel Yorong, both of the 8th Infantry Battalion, issued the appeal on a video posted September 21 by the rebels on YouTube. The two were captured by the NPA in Barangay Buntongon, Impasug-ong town, Bukidnon, on August 22.
Speaking in Bisaya, the captives, who the rebels consider “prisoners of war,” addressed their appeal to their battalion and division commanders.
They also called on President Benigno Aquino III to order their commanders to implement the SOMO and also appealed to church leaders to help convince government to grant their request.
The two soldiers also told their families not to worry and that they were “safe” and “healthy.”
The video opens with footage showing the captives hiking through a forest with a rebel unit and ends with them sharing food with their captors.
On September 8, the National Democratic Front offered to release the two as a gesture of goodwill toward the resumption of peace talks. The release hinged on the military’s declaration of a 10-day SOMO, from September 10-20.
But this was rejected by the military, which ordered intensified operations to rescue the captives.
In a statement written in Bisaya that accompanied the video, Cesar Renerio, spokesman of the National Democratic Front North-Central Mindanao Region, reiterated the rebels’ call for a SOMO in San Fernando, Cabanglasan, Malaybalay City, Impasug-ong, Manolo Fortich and Malitbog in Bukidnon; and Claveria, Balingasag and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental.
However, he did not specify a timeframe for the truce.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/95961/2-captured-soldiers-renew-appeal-for-truce-to-allow-release-by-npa
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