AFP rejects NPA request to stop operations in Bukidnon

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— The military rejected the request of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) for a 10-day suspension of military operations in Bukidnon province to allow the safe release of a policeman who communist rebels have been holding captive for more than a month.

Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division (ID) based here, said the military was happy over efforts to free Police Officer 2 Anthony Natividad of the Kalilangan town police, but Army officials could not suspend their ongoing operations against the New People’s Army (NPA).

“How can the government suspend its operations when NPA [rebels] continue their atrocities in the area?” Maj. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, 4th ID commander, asked.

NDFP earlier relayed its request for the military to suspend operations in at least 74 villages in Bukidnon for the release of Natividad, who was taken in Talakag town on Feb. 9 while he was on his way to this city.

Cesar Renerio, spokesperson of the NDFP North-Central Mindanao Region, said the rebel group would release Natividad if the Army and the police ordered a stand down of forces in some villages in the Bukidnon towns of Talakag, Lantapan, Baungon, Pangantucan and Kalilangan; and in the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia.

Bishop Felixberto Calang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and Catholic Archbishop Antonio Ledesma relayed the NDFP’s request to the military during a meeting with Col. Jesse Alvarez, 4th ID assistant division commander, on Monday.

Renerio said the NPA would declare a temporary ceasefire once its request for suspension of military operations would be granted.

But Madrigal rejected the request. He said government forces needed to keep their presence in local communities to prevent the NPA from entering these areas.

He said if the rebels were sincere in releasing Natividad, they could simply let him go and release him anywhere.

“They (NPA) don’t need to ask for any suspension [of military operations] when they can just leave their captive (Natividad) anywhere, anytime,” Madrigal said. “They just have to notify everyone, especially the media, where they will leave him so that authorities and his family can pick him up.”

Despite the military’s decision, Calang believed the NDFP would still make true its promise to free Natividad before or during the start of the fourth round of the formal talks between the government and the NDFP panels in The Netherlands next week. —JIGGER J. JERUSALEM