NPA postpones release of 3 cops in Surigao - report

Communist New People's Army rebels have postponed the release of three police personnel in Surigao del Norte they seized in November 2014, a Mindanao news site reported.

The NPA accused the military and local officials for not agreeing to conditions for the release, according to a report on MindaNews.

 

National Democratic Front-Mindanao spokesman Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos said the military and the provincial crisis committee failed to reciprocate their unilateral ceasefire.

 

Still in NPA custody are PO1 Democrito Polvorosa and PO1 Marichel Contemplo of the Alegria police station, snatched last Nov. 12; and PO1 Junrie Amper of Malimono police station, who was abducted Nov. 16.

 

Madlos was quoted in the report as saying only the three policemen from Surigao del Norte are still in NPA custody, with six other captives released last December.

 

Madlos as citing continued military operations despite government’s claim of a suspension of military and police operations from Dec. 19 to Jan. 19.

 

It added the NDF had reciprocated the government ceasefire with one of its own, from Dec. 24 to 26, Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, and Jan. 15 to 19.

 

According to the communist rebels, they had a supplemental ceasefire for Surigao del Norte from Jan. 6 to 19 for the release of the three policemen, but government forces did not reciprocate.

 

MindaNews said it received last Friday a compact disc from the NPA, containing videos of the three policemen.

 

In the video, the three asked the military to withdraw from the hinterlands for their safe release, and called on President Benigno Aquino III to expedite their release.

Source http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/402531/news/regions/npa-postpones-release-of-3-cops-in-surigao-report