 links: http://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/Roxas-Secures-Freedom-of-4-Cops-from-NPA/NC-2014-1024
Roxas Secures Freedom of 4 Cops from NPA
After 19 days in captivity,
four police officers under the custody of the New People's Army were
freed by their captors and turned over to government upon the
intercession of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.
The DILG Secretary flew to Agusan del
Norte with Presidential Peace Adviser Ging Deles and PNP chief Director
General Alan Purisima to ensure the safe release of PO3 Vic Calubag
Concon, PO1 Rey O’niel Morales, PO1 Joen B. Zabala and PO1 Edito F.
Roquino.
The four police officers were held
captive by the NPA after a rebel raid on the Alegria municipal police
station in Surigao del Norte last July 10. Two NPA rebels were killed
during the raid, while two other police officers were wounded.
The police officers were later reunited
with their wives who were waiting with Roxas, Deles and Purisima at the
temporary government command center in Kitcharao Elementary School,
located about seven kilometers from the release site.
The police officers were later taken to a government hospital for medical check-up.
"Ang pangunahing interes ng misyong ito
ay masigurong ligtas sa peligro ang apat na pulis at maibalik sila sa
piling ng kanilang pamilya sa lalong madaling panahon," Roxas told
reporters who interviewed him at the command center.
"Ginagawa lang natin ang ating
tungkulin. Obligasyon ng pamahalaan na ibigay ang lahat ng suporta na
kaya nitong ipaabot sa mga lingkod bayan na itinataya ang buhay sa
panganib magampanan lamang ang kanilang trabaho," he added.
Negotiations for the release of the four
police officers scored a major breakthrough last week after the
National Democratic Front- North-eastern Mindanao sought the
intercession of Roxas to break an impasse in ongoing talks to secure the
policemen's freedom.
The Local Crisis Committee led by
Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas had began negotiating with the
NDF-NEMR for the policemen's freedom immediately after the rebel raid on
Alegria.
Initially, the NDFP-NEMR demanded that
government security forces declare a 10 day-ceasefire (SOMO/SOPO) in
Surigao City and 14 municipalities in the mainland of Surigao del Norte
as preconditions for the policemen's release.
After a series of negotiations with the
local crisis committee, the NDFP reduced the ceasefire period to six
days covering only six municipalities in the mainland of Surigao del
Norte.
Last Saturday, July 26, the NDFP-NEMR
informed Sec. Roxas through an emissary that the NPA units holding the
four policemen as hostages are amenable in releasing their captives if
government security forces will agree on a five-day ceasefire covering
the towns of Placer, Bacuag, Tubod, Gigaquit, Alegria and Claver, in
Surigao del Norte; and the towns of Kitcharao, Jabonga and Santiago, in
Agusan del Norte.
Last Sunday, July 27, Roxas announced
that the military and the police have agreed to meet the rebels'
precondition to pave the way for the safe release of the four police
officers.
The DILG chief's announcement prompted
the NDF-NEMR to issue a corresponding ceasefire order, which led to the
eventual release of the four policemen.
"Taos-pusong pasasalamat kay Gov. Sol
Matugas, Cong. Lalo Matugas at Gov. Angel Amante gayundin sa iba pang
LGU officials at employees na naglaan ng oras at pagod para mapalaya ang
apat nating pulis," Roxas said.
"Hayaan ninyong bigyan ko ng espesyal na
komendasyon si Gov. Matugas dahil alam ko na sa unang araw pa lamang na
makuha ng NPA ang ating mga pulis, agad niyang binuo ang Local Crisis
Committee para masigurong hindi malalagay sa peligro ang buhay ng mga
pulis na ito," he added.
Roxas also cited the efforts of peace
advocates and civil society organizations, who helped the Local Crisis
Committee in the initial stages of negotiations with the NDF-NEMR.
"Nagpapasalamat din ako sa civil society
organizations at third party facilitators na nakipagtulungan sa ating
mga LGU officials para mabilis na maresolbahan ang krisis na ito," the
DILG chief said.
"Sa pagtutulungan nating lahat,
naipakita natin na posibleng makamit ang kapayapaan kung sama-sama
tayong magsusulong nito," he added.
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