MANILA, Philippines—A husband safe and home for Christmas.

This is what Mariel Cammayo wants on top of her holiday wish list.

Cammayo’s husband, First Lt. Vicente Camayo, was abducted by communist rebels on Nov. 7 in Compostela Valley province almost two weeks ago.

At Camp Aguinaldo Thursday, where she sought the help of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Mariel made this tearful plea: “I am appealing to the people who are now holding my husband to please release him immediately. Let my husband’s freedom be their Christmas gift to us.”

The military has said that Cammayo, company commander of the Army’s 11th Special Forces Company of the 3rd Special Forces, was being held by rebels at the end of a two-day encounter in Sitio Anagase in Monkayo town.

It added that the New People’s Army initially denied holding Cammayo in captivity, but later confirmed it after witnesses said they saw an undetermined number of NPA rebels blindfolding and handcuffing Cammayo.

The Philippine Army on Monday appealed for the soldier’s immediate release, but said it would not negotiate for his freedom.

AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres had earlier said that the military had other “avenues” to ensure the rescue of Cammayo safely.

“But we will never negotiate with terrorists,” he added.

“We are, of course, giving a high premium to Lt. Cammayo’s safety in the conduct of our operations, but this will not stop us from going after those who are responsible for the attack.”

Cammayo’s family, including his mother and brother met with Teodoro upon the advice of Special Forces Headquarters, Mariel said.

Teodoro had assured her that the military would “do everything” to bring back Cammayo to his family without delay, she added.

Mariel, who is six months pregnant, also asked the NPA to treat her husband well. Cammayo was reported wounded in the encounter.

“I know you have a heart and I hope you understand that it is very difficult to be pregnant without your husband by your side,” she said in an appeal to Cammayo’s abductors.

The 7,000-member New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a Maoist insurgency to seize power in the Philippines by conducting guerrilla activities for nearly 40 years.