THE military dismissed the communist rebels’ accusations that the government is hindering the safe and immediate release of a soldier who was abducted in Monkayo, Compostela Valley on November 2.

In a press statement, the New People’s Army (NPA) said the 10th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army "is actively opposing and closing the door to the possibility of an early, safe and orderly release of their prisoner of war (Corporal Dominador Alegre) and instead insists on endangering the security of Alegre by launching military operations.”

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Captain Emmanuel Garcia, chief of the division of public affairs of the Army's 10th ID, however, said the operation is meant to rescue Alegre and not to put him in harm’s way.

He explained that without conducting hot pursuit operations against the abductors, the rebels will have the time to concoct charges against the soldier and sentence him to death.

"Pero dahil sa military rescue operation natin ay mapepressure ngayon ang rebelde na irelease na si Corporal Alegre. There is no truth na gusto naming ipahamak ang kasamahan naming," Garcia said.

On the possible charges to be filed against Alegre for last week’s incident where 18 firearms were carted away by the rebels from the military patrol base in Barangay Casoon, Captain Garcia said the court martial procedure is but a standard operating procedure in the military to give the accused the chance to clear his name.

Garcia said filing of charges against Alegre is not their main concern now but his rescue is.

The NPA said Alegre is in good condition as his custodial unit upholds the communist rebels’ policy of humane and lenient treatment towards prisoners of war.

"Even as the 4th PBC-NPA is currently undertaking the investigation to find out violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and other counter-revolutionary acts that may have been committed by POW Cpl. Alegre, the revolutionary movement has always maintained a policy of giving the utmost consideration to the early, safe and orderly release of POWs whenever and wherever a basis for it exist," said Ka Simon Santiago, spokesperson of the Regional Political Department of the NPA-Southern Mindanao.