BUKIDNON, Philippines – The New People's Army on Tuesday, May 3, kept its promise to release its 4 remaing prisoners of war (POWs) at two separate locations: in Impasug-ong town here in Bukidnon, and in San Luis, Agusan del Sur.
The release of the POWs pushed through despite the capture of one of the NPA's top ranking officials, Ricardo Manili (also known as Ka Joker) a day before, May 2, in Agusan del Sur.
The NPA rebels, led by National Democratic Front of the Philippines-North Central Mindanao Command (NDFP-NCMC) spokesperson Alan Juanito turned over Senior Police Officer 1 Warren Hansol Conales and Police Officer 3 Edwin Panes Castor to local 3rd-party facilitators.
Juanito said that the release of the prisoners was proof of the sincerity of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NDF in pursuing the stalled peace talks.
The POWs were released to the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) and the Local Crisis Committee.
The families of Castor and Conales, Bukidnon Governor Jose Maria Zubiri, and local officials were also present.
Meanwhile, 23rd Infantry Battalion Army soldiers Private first class Diven Tawide and Glen Austria were turned over to a LTPF/LCC in San Luis, Agusan del Sur.
On May 2, the PEPP also secured the release of SPO4 Renie Rombo in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental.
All of them were abducted by NPA members, who conducted simultaneous road blocks in Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, and Agusan del Sur on April 3.
Conales and Castor were turned over to the PEPP in Barangay Bulonay, deep in the central Bukidnon area, some 3 hours away from the national highway in Malaybalay City.
Bishop Calang said that the PEPP will continue to support the call for peace talks. "We will continue to provide neutral function between the government and the rebel," Calang said.
Tuesday's release was the 4th time that the PEPP brokered the release of POWs.
Juanito urged the need to "address the root cause of this rebellion through peace talks." He added that the NPA's release of the POWs, even as one of their comrades was arrested, signified their seriousness in returning to the negotiating table with the government.
“There were suggestions that the peace talk should start from the local level, but it is already done at the local level, the ball now is in [the hands of] the national government,” Juanito said.
Governor Zubiri said that he was happy with the quick release of the policemen who were serving the province.
“We are all happy that the policemen were given the right to go home,” Zubiri said.
Adhering to the Geneva Convention
Ka Owen of the NPA's custodial force said that they looked after the POWs, in accordance with Geneva Convention and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
It is the first of 4 agreements in the substantive agenda of the formal talks between the Philippine government and the NDFP.
Ka Owen said that Conales is diabetic while Castor is hypertensive.
"We have provided sufficient medical care, even though we walked for 13 days, we always checked on our POWs' state of health," Ka Owen said.
The two policemen were brought to the provincial headquarters of the National Police in Malaybalay City, where they would be debriefed and provided with medical care.
Conales confirmed said that they were treated with dignity and respect. He said they were even protected and taken away by the custodial force after the main force of the NPA encountered pursuing government forces.
Castor said that they stayed in a house for 14 days prior to their released. He said they only met Juanito on the eve of May 2, when he explained to them the process of their release the following day.
Ka Owen jokingly said that they didn't want any of their prisoners dying of diseases while under their custody, “That would be a nightmare and a violation of the protocols of war.”
Juanito added there would be more abduction of state forces as long as the peace talk does not resume.
Juanito also thanked Colonel Jesse Alvarez, commanding officer of the 403rd Brigade of the Philippine Army, for the coordination that paved way for the quick release of the prisoners. – Rappler.com