Monday, August 09, 2004 Communist rebels delay release of captives
MANILA -- Communist guerillas said Sunday they postponed the scheduled release of two soldiers held as hostages since March amid continuing government offensives that left 19 dead last week.
A government representative to the panel negotiating peace with the communist group said they are still waiting for President Arroyo to order a suspension of military and police offensives against New People's Army (NPA) guerillas.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said Lieutenant Ronaldo Fidelino and private Ronnel Nemeno were to have been freed last week following an agreement reached between its political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the government panel.
But the rebels "had no choice but to cancel the release with regrets" amid continuing military offensives against the rebels.
The agreement had called for the military to temporarily cease offensives to allow for a safe passage for the two soldiers.
Silvestre Bello III, chief government negotiator, said in a telephone interview they have yet to resolve whether to declare a suspension of military operations against the rebels.
Earlier, government asked communist insurgents to drop their request for a ceasefire and just release Fidelino and Nenemo.
"Wala pa. Wala pang desisyun kung magkakaroon ng Somo (None yet. There is no decision if we are going to declare a ceasefire.). We're still waiting for word from the President," he said.
NPA spokesman Roger Rosal said they are scheduling again the release of their two hostages, who were abducted in Tinambac, Camarines Sur last March 1, on August 16 in time for Fidelino's birthday but the refusal of government to suspend its military and police operations makes the release difficult.
He warned that Fidelino and Nenemo might suffer the fate of former Dolores town police chief Ablerado Martin who died in an encounter days before he was to be released by the NPA.
The communist group initially agreed to reduce its demand of a month's suspension of government offensives to 20 days and three provinces to two provinces.
Government wants the halt in offensives to last 15 days and in one province only.
President Arroyo in an address to Congress last month said her government would not negotiate for the release of the soldiers, whose case gained national prominence after Manila received strong criticism for capitulating to Iraq militants.
Arroyo last month pulled out the Philippine contingent in Iraq ahead of schedule to save the life of hostage Angelo de la Cruz. JMR/With AFP
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