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Wednesday, April 28, 2004
NDF to reveal fate of 4 POWs soon
By Allen V. Estabillo
KORONADAL CITY -- The National Democratic Front (NDF) in Mindanao vowed to reveal "very soon" the plight of a Marine sergeant and three other military intelligence agents who were held captive by the New People's Army (NPA) rebels somewhere in Central Mindanao since 2001.
Ka Efren, information officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-led NDF-Far South Mindanao Region, revealed this even as he parried anew questions on whether the four captives are still dead or alive.
"Right now, we are not in the position to answer that question. That matter should be referred to the NDF national (leadership)," he said in an interview over the Radio Mindanao Network.
But he said there are already some preparations to "clarify issues regarding the capture of Staff Sgt. Jeremias Rosete and government intelligence agents Wilfredo Maldecir, Pepito Simbulan and Herminia Sorongon in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat in September 2001."
He said the NDF Mindanao and national leadership would particularly release an update regarding the matter very soon.
"We would like to convey to all concerned that the updates are underway so we'll just wait for them," the NDF spokesman added.
Relatives of the four NPA "prisoners of war" sought anew clarifications on the victims' fates as media reports came regarding efforts for the release of two other captives of the rebel group in the Bicol Region.
Jerry Rosete, brother of the captured Marine intelligence officer, said the NDF must clarify their plans for the four captives and also let them know now if the four are still alive or already dead.
He also raised questions why the plight of the four captives are not being discussed or attended to by both the government and the rebels.
In a press statement issued Sunday, CPP spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal urged the government to negotiate with the NDF and have the Armed Forces order a suspension of military operations in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Albay to allow the smooth and orderly release of the two captives.
The NPA's Romulo Jallores command is currently holding Lt. Ronaldo Fedelino and Pfc. Ronnel Lemeno. Both were captured March 1 in Tinambac, Camarines Sur in an NPA ambush on a section of the Philippine Army's 42nd IB led by Fedelino.
Rosal said the NPA has made clear its willingness to implement their immediate release as soon as an agreement is reached between the government and the NDF.
Sgt. Rosete, a Marine assigned with the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp), and his companions were "arrested" by members NPA's Valentin Palamine Command in Sept. 4, 2001 in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat for allegedly spying on the rebel group's activities in the area.
The four were meted the death sentence by a so-called "people's court" of the NPA but their cases were reportedly reconsidered due to human considerations.
Reports came out in June last year that Rosete, who is known to be suffering from a heart ailment, had died, while Sorongon, who is also a common-law wife of Maldecir, gave birth while in captivity in 2002.
The NDF central committee and its local units had pointed at each other to give information on the state of the four NPA captives.
Luis Jalandoni, a member of the NDF central committee, earlier told a local radio station that he has "no knowledge" about the plight of the four captives and said such queries should instead be referred to local leaders of the NDF.
Jalandoni said they had a hard time communicating with their local leaders due to numerous encounters with the military over the last few months.
When interviewed later, NDF-Mindanao spokesman Jorge Madlos, alias Ka Oris, said he also has "no personal knowledge" about the matter. He instead instructed the captives' families to refer the problem to the government peace panel.
(April 28, 2004 issue)
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