Monday, July 07, 2008 Army denies arresting NPA fighter By Edmund B. Sestoso
THE Philippine Army deployed in the mountainous Linantuyan village in Guihulngan town has denied that it has arrested a member of the communist rebel group New People's Army (NPA).
In an interview, Army Lt. Col. Erwin Bernard Neri, commanding officer of the 79th Infantry Battalion, denied they have arrested an NPA member and "involuntarily disappeared" him.
The Army official issued the statement after the Pulang Mt. Talinis Front Command of the NPA called on the military to present one of its members, 46 years old Calixto "Ka Manong" Alfante Neri.
The official said in a radio interview that the allegation is another "black propaganda" by the NPA to get the sympathy of civilians who have slowly become disillusioned with the group.
Dom Pantaleon, spokesperson of the NPA Pulang Mt. Talinis Front Command, earlier said the continued "involuntary disappearance" of Alfante is in complete violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention governing combatants and hors' d combat (or combatants deemed already protected by international humanitarian law by virtue of arrest or surrender).
Alfante was allegedly abducted by elements of the 79th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Kabalanusan, Barangay Dobdob, Valencia town last June 11.
Neri said the 79th IB did not kidnap anybody or any member of the NPA in the area.
In fact, he added he does not even know this Alfante who was allegedly kidnapped by the military.
He further said the said person is not even in their order of battle.
Neri said the military follows a process when it captures NPA personalities.
He said those they arrested would be turned over to the police and appropriate charges filed against them.
Alfante, before he joined the underground movement, was once a village councilor of Barangay Libertad Sur, Sagbayan, Bohol province.
