Reds free hostages ahead of papal visit

From the Manila Standard Today (Jan 2): Reds free hostages ahead of papal visit

THE New People’s Army will release the three remaining “prisoners of war” in Surigao del Norte before the Jan. 15 visit of Pope Francis, a negotiator for the communist rebels said Thursday.

“The CPP wanted to focus on the anniversary and the peace consultations [so] they decided to defer the release of the three prisoners. They will be released eventually, before the papal visit,” said National Democratic Front negotiating panel spokesman Fidel Agcaoili.

The three prisoners--PO1 Democrito Bondoc Polvorosa and Marichel Unclara Contemplo of Alegria and PO1 Junrie Amper of Malimono--were abducted by NPA rebels in November.

Earlier, NDF spokesman for Mindanao Jorge Madlos blamed the military and police for the delay.

“Only the three Surigao del Norte police officers were not released because the military and the police, despite of the government’s declaration of ceasefire, still continued their military operations in Surigao del Norte up to this day,” Madlos said.

“I am apologizing to the families of the policemen that they were not released as expected. This is because the military and police have been violating the government’s declared ceasefire,” said Madlos, also known as Ka Oris.

Earlier, the Aquino administration condemned the “pointless violence” of members of the NPA over the holiday season that left two soldiers and a militiaman dead.

Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the NPA responded to the government’s month-long unilateral ceasefire with “acts of senseless violence.”

The government earlier declared a month-long unilateral ceasefire from Dec. 19 to Jan. 19 and the CPP reciprocated with a staggered truce covering Dec. 24 to 26; Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, 2015; and Jan. 15 to 19.

Deles noted that on Dec. 22, NPA rebels torched heavy equipment used for the construction of a bridge in Paracale, Camarines Norte as well as a civilian vehicle in Agusan del Sur.

“Both acts were committed in retaliation for the civilians’ refusal to give in to their extortion,” Deles said.

On Dec. 23, NPA members abducted Compostela Valley jail warden Jose Mervin Gementiza Coquilla in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

On Dec. 29, Deles said the NPA shot dead at point blank range soldiers Ronald Bautista and Albert Amor and militiaman Renel Baluca—all unarmed and in civilian clothes who were on their way to spend the holidays with their families.

“We strongly condemn the pointless violence exercised by the CPP-NPA-NDF. If they are truly serious in their call for the resumption of peace negotiations with government, we challenge them to walk their talk and stop harassing development projects, civilians and unarmed soldiers on holiday,” Deles said.

CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison earlier announced the expected resumption of formal peace talks in January—a move that would revive the negotiations that have been stalled for close to three years.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/02/reds-free-hostages-ahead-of-papal-visit/