Tuesday, May 08, 2007 NPA assurance of humane treatment for captive welcomed By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed the assurance made by the New People's Army (NPA) that the Army sergeant the rebel group is holding captive will be treated humanely.
Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Rodolfo Obaniana said the NPA statement is a welcome development as he expressed hope that the rebels are true to their words.
"We welcome this development. We hope that the soldier will be treated humanely as we have treated hundreds of NPAs in accordance with humanitarian laws," Obaniana said.
In a statement, the communist group's Camp for Administration of Detainees in Southern Mindanao finally announced Sunday it is holding Army Staff Sergeant Albert A. Baludoya.
The rebel group said a special body was set up by the NPA's Merardo Arce Command to look into the possible war crimes and other serious human rights violations the Army officer might have committed in his 17 years of active duty.
Baludoya is the commander of the Army's 72nd Infantry Battalion detachment based in Aliwagwag, Cateel, Davao Oriental.
He was riding on his motorcycle last April 13 when flagged down by the rebels at a checkpoint they set up in Sitio Holid, Barangay Aragon, Cateel at around 8 a.m.
The rebel group said they accorded Baludoya the prisoner of war status based on international humanitarian laws and the 1996 NDFP Unilateral Declaration of Undertaking to apply the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and Protocol 1 of 1977.
"As such, all the rights appurtenant to his status as prisoner of war is respected and dutifully safeguarded by his custodians," said Roel Agustin II, spokesman of the Conrado Heredia Front 20 Operations Command.
Baludoya is said to be now under the custody of CAD and will remain in detention while the group completes its investigation.
"Rest assured that the NPA strictly adheres to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. No harm shall befall on Baludoya," Agustin said.
