Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Free captive, NPA urged

From the Visayan Daily Star (Dec 15): Free captive, NPA urged

The recent abduction of Cirilo Bagnuran, a member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, by the New People's Army, has been a traumatic experience for his family members.

RPA-ABB leader Rene Europa, alias Maco, who managed to escape unhurt during the raid at his cock farm Thursday last week in Hacienda Jamandre, Brgy. Robles, La Castellana, by NPA rebels, said the wife of Bagnuran is now in a hospital, because of what had happened to her husband.

Bagnuran was taken captive by rebels from the cock farm of Europa, who also took five high-powered firearms.

Europa said NPA rebels simultaneously raided his house and that of Bagnuran, that are several meters away from each other, and also the cock farm.

Europa and Bagnuran were linked by the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command to two murder incidents in La Castellana and Negros Oriental.

The RPA-ABB leader strongly denied claims of a certain Ann Jacinto, a spokesperson of the Leonardo Panaligan Command, in an interview with ABS-CBN Bacolod, linking him to murder incidents.

Europa challenged the media to investigate his background and what kind of a person he is in La Castellana, by interviewing town officials and even ordinary people.

Bagnuran told ABS-CBN that he is ready to answer my allegations against him, and also to accept his fate. He, however, said he is concerned about his wife, who is sick, and the other members of his family.

Europa said the NPA should spare Bagnuran, who is now living with only one kidney.

Col. Francisco Delfin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said there is an ongoing operation to rescue Bagnuran.

The abduction of Bagnuran by NPA members is nothing but a clear case of kidnapping, Veronica Tabara, Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/RPA-ABB peace negotiator said.

He was manhandled and forcibly taken where he was peacefully staying and eking out a living for his family while waiting for the final signing of the closure agreement to the on-going peace talks between the Government of Republic of the Philippine (GPH) and the RPMP/RPA/ABB, she said.

The RPMP/RPA/ABB has been pursuing the peace process with the government that is to be concluded with the closure agreement.

Upon its signing, the group commits to turn over the firearms in its possession so that it may be able to pursue social-political reintegration activities, she said.

The five high-powered firearms seized by the NPA unit were to be turned over to the government. Bagnuran was a part of the team taking-charge of the safekeeping of the firearms and ammunitions and clearly not undertaking any hostile action against the NPA, she added.

The kidnapping of Bagnuran is a very clear case of violation of the International Humanitarian Law, Tabara said. Aside from forcibly abducting him, the Panaligan Command has admitted in its recent media statement that it still needs to establish if he has committed a crime, she noted.

He was manhandled and tortured in front of his two children and wife who had to be rushed to a hospital for medical attention because of the psychological and mental impact of this cruelty committed by the NPA members, she added.

The CPP-NPA-NDF and its network of supportive organizations have been actively invoking and proclaiming its support for human rights for its members and for many cases of alleged government and military violations of human rights, she said

If it truly and sincerely stands by its statement on respecting human rights and the International Humanitarian Law, it should, in good faith, immediately order for the release of Bagnuran and provide indemnification to his family members who have been traumatized by the actions of the NPA unit, Tabara also said.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/December/15/topstory6.htm

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