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Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Captured soldier released to mayor
By Ben O. Tesiorna and Aurea A. Gerundio
A SCOUT Ranger held prisoner of war by the Merardo Arce Command of the New People's Army for 14 months was released to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte somewhere in Davao Oriental at 4:20 p.m. Monday.
Sgt. Ramiro G. Lawas of the Army's 60th Infantry Battalion was released from the NPA's Camp for Administration of Detainees (CAD) and delivered to Duterte and representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross.
Duterte said that the National Democratic Front's spokesman for Mindanao Ka Oris requested him to bring Lawas home to his family first before returning him to the nearest military detachment.
Doctors who checked Lawas declared him in good health.
Duterte took a potshot at the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) by describing the release as a manifestation of sincerity on the side of the government and the NPA.
"We can always declare a ceasefire [with the MILF] and then nay mubuto nga bomba (a bomb will explode in our midst)," he said.
Fr. Alforque of the Archdiocese of Butuan City who was also there during the release said Lawas expressed excitement to see his family anew.
"Nanghinaut siya na makabalik sa iyang trabaho sa pagsundalo (He is also wishing he can return to his work as a soldier)," Fr. Alforque said.
The priest then expressed hope that peace talks between the communist rebels and government will resume.
"Mapadayon unta ang paglinkguray sa pagdialogo aron ang nausik nga kinabuhi mamenosan kung mahimo na dili madayon pinaagi lang sa pagdialogo (I wish that the peace talks will resume to negotiate so that there will be less lives wasted)," he said.
In receiving Lawas, Duterte thanked the rebels for respecting the soldier's rights and the Geneva Convention regarding Prisoners of War.
Ka Alex, one of the rebels who released the soldier, said Lawas' release is but a proof that the rebels still abide by the comprehensive agreement on human rights and international humanitarian laws (Cahrihl) that was signed between the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front and the government of the Philippines even though peace talks have already been stalled.
"Para sa amoa matinud-anon ang NPA sa pagsubay niini. Ginapaabot namo sa militar kung kinsay maipit diha pwede mo pagsurender kay dili man mo ang centro sa pakigbangi, instrumento ra man mo (We are showing that the NPA is abiding by this agreement. We are also telling the military, especially those who may find themselves helpless amid enemy lines to just surrender because you are not the real enemies. You are but instruments of the enemy)," Ka Alex said.
Well-treated
Lawas, who was sporting a newly trimmed hair, white sweat shirt, gray jogging pants, gray cap, and rubber boots could not seem to keep his happiness from showing upon his arrival at the Mariano Bainting Command headquarters.
In a brief interview, Lawas said he gained several pounds at the hands of his captors as he was treated and fed well.
"Nalipay ko ug dako na makita nako akong pamilya," he said adding he is not sure if his family is aware of his release.
His wife Norma, five children namely, Mary Nerian, 16; mark neron, 14; Mia Nina, 123; Mari Neth, 10; and his youngest child who was born while he was in captivity, are in Panibasan, Maco, Davao del Norte.
He said that as early as May 2002, he learned from his captors that he would be released in June.
He added that he plans to return to the military service.
A medical check up on Lawas confirmed that he was not tortured.
Humanitarian grounds
In a press statement announcing the rebel's intention to release the prisoner, Ka Oris, spokesman of the National Democratic Front-Mindanao, said Lawas' release is based on humanitarian grounds and "an act emanating from the exercise of the People's Democratic Government's political authority".
"The holding and detention of POW's and their prosecution and conviction or release, depending on the culpability of POW's undergoing revolutionary judicial proceedings, are acts consistent with the revolutionary movement's assertion of its political authority which it has accumulated in the course of the people's war," added Rubi del Mundo, spokesperson for NDFin Southern Mindanao.
Lawas was captured by the rebels belonging to the 2nd Pulang Bagani Company and the Conrado Heredia Command on Road 55, Brgy. Nabunga in Boston, Davao Oriental last April 4, 2002.
Lawas was with an Army platoon under 2nd Lt. Lawrence Aninag when they were ambushed by the rebels while conducting military operations in the area.
The rebels claimed to have killed 10 soldiers and wounded 12 others during that encounter. With reports from SAE
(June 10, 2003 issue)
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