Below are statements issued by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the New People’s Army:
Conrado Heredia Command
Front 20 Operations Command
New People’s Army–Southern Mindanao
Press Statement
19 February 2011
CHC-NPA frees POW PO3 Sabatin; slams AFP/PNP ceasefire violations
On the occasion of the renewed round of peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the Conrado Heredia Command-Front 20 Operations Command of the New People’s Army in Southern Mindanao has released today NPA Prisoner of War PO3 Jorge Sabatin with Badge No. 146981. He is a member of the 1403rd Police Provincial Mobile Group of the Philippine National Police. The order to release POW PO3 Sabatin was issued by the Merardo Arce Command-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command-NPA after revolutionary authorities completed its investigation that concluded that PO3 Sabatin has no direct culpability nor serious rights violations to the revolutionary movement and the people. The order to release POW PO3 Sabatin was also issued as an act of goodwill for the formal resumption of the GPH-NDFP peace talks.
POW PO3 Sabatin’s release today ends his 18-day detention after he surrendered to the Red Army in a successful raid and disarming operation February 1 of a PNP extortion outpost in Barangay Pulang Lupa, Trento, Agusan del Sur. Sustaining splinter wounds from the firefight, POW PO3 Sabatin was immediately provided medical attention by the Red fighters. As a member of the abusive and mercenary police force of the reactionary government, POW PO3 Sabatin has been found to have no direct hand in the commission of gross human rights violations. His participation in the extortion activities to benefit Agusan del Sur Governor Edward Adolph “Eddie Bong” Plaza is a misplaced sense of duty common in most foot soldiers and ordinary policemen of the US-Aquino regime.
During his detention, PO3 Sabatin recounted how he became one of the policemen detailed at the Pulang Lupa PNP outpost and that the crux of their armed presence was evidently as mercenary goons protecting the lucrative logging extortion enterprise of Gov. Plaza. A typical policeman, POW PO3 Sabatin was used as a pawn of the reactionary state’s mercenary and corrupt AFP/PNP hierarchy.
The CHC-NPA undertakes this safe and orderly release today in the face of AFP combat operations in the areas of Compostela Valley Province, parts of Agusan del Sur and Davao Oriental in clear violation of the GPH-NDFP week-long mutual ceasefire declaration. His reunion with his family could have been effected much earlier had the AFP/PNP heeded the calls of his family and well-meaning individuals to cease their futile and failed combat operations to make way for his earlier release.
Amid calls for the suspension of offensive military operations, the AFP-PNP went on with their doomed “rescue” operations punctuated by the disastrous February 11 misencounter between separate AFP and PNP columns in Sitio Cogonon, Barangay Salvacion in Trento where at least two enemy troops were killed and another two wounded. The safe and orderly release of PO3 Sabatin today has only proven the futility of the so-called AFP/PNP “rescue” missions. Despite the intensified AFP operations before and even during the week-long ceasefire, the safety and well-being of POW Sabatin were ensured inside the territories of the People’s Democratic Government. The NPA has once again proven its principled adherence to international covenants and war protocols.
(SGD) Ka Roel Agustin II
Spokesperson
Conrado HerediaCommand
Front 20 Operations Command
New People’s Army–Southern Mindanao
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National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Mindanao
Press Statement
19 February 2011
AFP-PNP-CAFGU ceasefire violations in North East and Southern Mindanao are in contempt of the peace process
AFP, PNP and CAFGU units in both the North Eastern and Southern parts of Mindanao have violated the mutually-declared ceasefire, which runs from Feb 15 to 21, of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Philippines (GPH).
In the North Eastern Mindanao province of Surigao del Norte alone, 4th Infantry Division military units began offensive combat operations since 12 January 2011, and at the start of the mutually-agreed ceasefire between the NDFP and the GPH on 15 February 2011, these units have not withdrawn from the area and continue to hold offensive positions.
1. In far flung Brgy. Sapa, Claver, February 15, combined AFP troops belonging to the 30th IBPA, 26th IBPA, 75th IB and the CAFGU are encamped in and around the barangay hall, have maintained their offensive combat positions and conducted combat patrols;
2. In far flung Brgy. Lahi, Gigaquit, February 15, combined AFP troops under the 30th IBPA, 26th IBPA, 75th IB and the CAFGU are encamped in and around the barangay hall, have maintained their offensive combat positions and conducted combat patrols;
3. In far flung Brgy. Camam-onan, Gigaquit, February 15, combined AFP troops under the 30th IBPA, 26th IBPA, 75th IB and the CAFGU are encamped in and around the barangay hall, have maintained their offensive combat positions and conducted combat patrol.
Moreover, initial reports from the field shows that the AFP-PNP-CAFGU committed 7 counts of glaring ceasefire violations in many far flung barangays in Southern Mindanao, particularly in the provinces of Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, and Agusan del Sur.
1. In Sto. Puting Bato, Brgy. Ngan, Compostela Valley Province, February 16, the 5th Scout Rangers Company are conducting offensive combat operations;
2. In Sto. Side Four, Brgy. Manggayon , Compostela Valley Province, February 16, the 5th Scout Rangers Company are conducting combat operations;
3. In Sto. Pagkaw, Brgy. Aragon, Cateel, Davao Oriental, February 16, Scout Rangers have encamped themselves in and around the houses of local civilians;
4. In Sto. Cogonon, Brgy. Salvacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur, February 16, 1 platoon (38 elements) of an unknown AFP unit is conducting combat operations;
5. In Brgy. Macopa, Man-ay, Davao Oriental, February 16, the 67th Infantry Battalion are conducting civil-military operations (CMOs) and are employing psy-war tactics against civilians;
6. In Sto. Matabang, Brgy. Taocanga, Man-ay, Davao Oriental, February 16, 2 companies (120 elements) of the 67th Infantry Battalion are conducting civil-military operations (CMOs) and are employing psy-war tactics against civilians.
7. In Sto. Maitom, Brgy. Tubaon, Taragona, Davao Oriental, February 16, the 67th Infantry Battalion are conducting civil-military operations (CMOs) and are employing psy-war tactics against civilians.
As we enter the fifth day of both the peace talks and the ceasefire, the Government of the Philippines (GPH), under Mr. Benigno Aquino III, must show sincerity in the field by once and for all ordering all AFP, PNP and CAFGU units to immediately cease and desist from continuing all offensive combat and intelligence operations, including CMOs, in Mindanao provinces and the rest of the country.
We call on all peace-loving Filipinos to report at once to the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) Secretariat of the NDFP or the nearest NPA command in your are any and all violations committed by the AFP, PNP, CAFGU and other paramilitary troops against the 7-day ceasefire.
(Sgd.) Ka Oris
Spokesperson
NDFP-Mindanao
