Press statement
December 22, 2017
For the National Democratic Front of the Philippines-North Eastern Mindanao Region (NDFP-NEMR) and revolutionary forces in the region, the release of prisoners of war (POW) PO2 Jhon Paul M. Doverte and PO2 Alfredo L. Degamon of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Placer last December 20, 2017 in Sitio Palalihan, Barangay Mahanob, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, is a show of goodwill for the resumption of peace talks.
The two POWs were under the care of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Front 16 Custodial Force for 36 days. The two policemen were captured by the NPA-Front 16 in the course of its successful raid of the PNP outpost in Bad-as, Placer, Surigao del Norte last November 13, 2017. It was reported that the two policemen were involved in protecting illegal drugs and extortion of small scale miners in Placer.
The NPA is a revolutionary army and are not terrorists. Red fighters fully abide by the Basic Rules of the New People’s Army which ensures its firm discipline. The Eight Points the NPA Must Follow guarantees the respect of the rights and security of the prisoners.
The Eight Points the NPA Must Follow are the following: 1) Be respectful when speaking; 2) Pay all bought correctly; 3) Return all borrowed things; 4) Pay for the damages made; 5) Do not hurt or curse anyone; 6) Do not destroy people’s crops; 7) Do not exploit women; and 8) Do not harm prisoners.
It is a principle of the NPA to humanely and appropriately treat prisoners of war and enemies who can no longer fight back. Enemies wounded in battle are cared for and given treatment.
Under the care of the NPA-Front 16 Custodial Force, the policies of the NPA were strictly followed, and the provisions under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and international protocols of war relating to the rights of PO2 Doverte and PO2 Degamon as prisoners of war, were upheld. The Red fighters made sure that the lives of the POWs were safe and their health and food guaranteed.
The POWs were scheduled to be released last December 5, 2017 to show goodwill for the peace negotiations, in response to the appeals of the family of the two policemen and the peace efforts of the people in the region and the country. But because the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) were not interested in peace talks and are bent on implementing Duterte’s all-out war against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), it always goes for a militarist solution for social problems. The 402nd Brigade Philippine Army and PNP-Caraga continued its military operations in the municipalities of Surigao del Norte where the POWs were to be released resulting to the cancellation of the release on that day.
Through the sincere efforts of the third party facilitator, officials of the local government unit (LGU), church people, concerned individuals and with the help of the people, the release of the POW finally pushed through. Despite the statement of the AFP/PNP that they will not halt their military operations, close to 500 people attended the event for the release. It may not be as large a crowd compared with the POW releases in the past, but the people risked their safety to push for the resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). The people are strongly calling for a sincere dialogue and solving the root causes of armed struggle to achieve just and lasting peace. The revolutionary movement is also pushing for this.
Thus, we must continue with the struggle to advance and defend the rights and just demands such as genuine land reform, wage increase and security of tenure, free education, housing, and other rights because these are the basis for achieving genuine peace, not surrendering and bowing to the fascist criminal US-Duterte regime. We call on the people in the region to resist the fascist oppression of the US-Duterte regime.
Ka Maria Malaya
Spokesperson
NDFP-NEMR
https://www.ndfp.org/release-two-pow-surigao-del-norte-shows-goodwill-resumption-peace-talks/
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