Troops pull out ibinasura ng militar sa Surigao

From the Mindanao Examiner BlogSpot site (Jan 9): Troops pull out ibinasura ng militar sa Surigao (Troop pull out from Surigao dismissed by the military)

Ibinasura ng militar ang troops pull out na hiling ng New People's Army sa Surigado del Norte province kapalit ng paglaya ng 3 parak na bihag ng rebeldeng grupo.

Unang ipinarating ng NPA kay Governor Sol Matugas ang kanilang demand at agad naman sinulatan nito ang militar para sa paglaya nina PO3 Democrito Polvorosa, PO1 Marichel Contemplo at PO1 Junrie Amper na binihag noon nakaranag taon. At hawak pa ng NPA si Compostela Valley provincial jail warden Jose Coquilla.

Sa sulat ni Matugas kay Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ponce, commander ng 402nd Infantry Brigade, ay hiniling nito na i-suspinde muna ng militar ang Community Organizing for Peace and Development (COPD) program sa lalawigan.

Ngunit sinabi ni Ponce kay Matugas na may unilateral cease-fire ang militar at walang opensiba ang mga tropa upang makasagabal sa release ng mga parak.

"All military units under him are religiously observing the provisions of the Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) as set forth by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Under the SOMO, troops are prohibited from conducting deliberate offensive and combat operations. But soldiers continue to maintain checkpoints and patrol villages to protect civilian communities from lawless elements," ani Ponce sa kanyang tugon.

Matigas ang pahayag ni Ponce na hindi ito payag sa kagustuhan ng NPA. "In view of the said provisions, the demand of the NPA to pull out our troops conducting COPD and the conduct of checkpoints cannot be granted. I will not allow the total pull out of troops in the area. On the other hand, I ordered my battalion commanders for the temporary suspension of Peace and Development Outreach Program and Community-Based Peace and Development efforts to pave way for the immediate release of the kidnapped victims," wika ni Ponce.

Maging ang mga checkpoints ay pinabubuwag rin ng NPA, ayon pa sa Heneral.

"The security patrol is aimed to protect civilian communities, government establishments, investment facilities, and vital structures, including military camps, detachments, patrol bases, installations and outposts against armed groups. The checkpoints also serve to prevent the illegal transport of weapons or explosives by civilians and rebel groups," paliwanag nito.

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.net/2015/01/troops-pull-out-ibinasura-ng-militar-sa.html