MAKILALA, North Cotabato, Philippines—Makilala Mayor Rudy Caoagdan has asked the New People’s Army to take advantage of a local government program to have wounded rebels treated in any medical facility here.
Caoagdan made the call amid reports that a number of NPA rebels were wounded in recent clashes with soldiers in the villages of Sto. Nino, Batasan, Cabilao, Luayon, and Rodero.
He said the municipal government’s Oplan Sagip Buhay was intended to respond to the medical needs of combatants wounded in action and was meant for government soldiers only.
“This is for humanitarian reasons,” Caoagdan said. “We have to provide services and assistance to them even if they are rebels. But this is also a program that proves that the local government is performing and doing its obligation to the people—whoever they are.”
Caoagdan said word has already been sent out to the NPA.
“So far, we have not received any response from them,” he said.
In Davao City, religious leaders from the Catholic and Protestant churches urged the military to release wounded NPA members under its custody on humanitarian grounds and as part of confidence building measures in connection with the stalled peace talks.
The call, which was embodied in a statement, was also signed by award-winning Davao-based independent filmmakers Arnel Mardoquio and Gutierrez “Teng” Mangansakan.
“We have appealed to the New People’s Army in the past, calling on them to release prisoners of war on humanitarian grounds. In response, the NPA has released captured Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) soldiers and officers allowing them to reunite with their anguished wives and families,” the statement said.
“We believe that reciprocity is incumbent upon both protagonists in the civil war. As the NPA has released prisoners of war in the past, the time now calls on the AFP to reciprocate with its own humanitarian gestures,” the appeal added.
But Major General Jorge Segovia, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, said only the courts could decide on the fate of the wounded NPA rebels in government custody.
“As for goodwill gestures, the government has given more than its share but the communists continue to reciprocate this with more attacks against the government and innocent civilians,” Segovia told Inquirer.
Segovia said the military has not disregarded the rights of wounded rebels and even helped in transporting them to hospitals.