Military scotches NDF SOMO demand for release of 4 captives

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 6): Military scotches NDF SOMO demand for release of 4 captives

Reacting to calls made by the National Democratic Front (NDF) that it needs a 10-day suspension of military operations (SOMO) to facilitate the release of four military and police personnel, ranking Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials said rebel demand is an exclusive purview of the Chief Executive.

"SOMO is a prerogative of the President. If I may add, recently the New People's Army (NPA) released two captives in Davao Oriental without asking for a SOMO," said Eastern Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Leonardo Guerrero.

The NDF, the political leadership of the NPA, is asking for a 10-day SOMO in parts of Bukidnon, Agusan Del Norte, Surigao Del Norte to facilitate the release of the military and police personnel they abducted last February.

Likewise, Guerrero said they will only conduct operations if there is a pressing need for them.

"We only conduct focused military operations if there is a need for us to address atrocities or armed violent attacks being perpetrated by the NPAs against our troops and civilians," he streesed.

Guerrero's views were shared by 4th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Benjamin Madrigal.

"The declaration of SOMO is a prerogative of the President. In the absence of such declaration, we continue in performing our mandate of protecting communities against terroristic attacks by the NPAs such as burning of equipment and extortion activities," he said.

"As it happened in Davao, they were able to release their hostages there without any SOMO/SOPO (suspension of police operations) They can simply leave them to local officials without any funfare," Madrigal pointed out.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=978205