|
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Sergeant freed by communist group in Trento
By Grace L. Plata and Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- The New People's Army (NPA) released the army sergeant they abducted from Cateel in Davao Oriental and held captive since April 13.
Staff Sergeant Albert Baludoya was released in Trento, Agusan del Sur to Monkayo town Vice Mayor Avelino Cabag and Sto. Tomas Vice Mayor Daniel Lu.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
Monkayo is in Compostela Valley while Sto. Tomas is in Davao del Norte.
The sergeant is the Aliwagwag, Cateel detachment commander of the 72nd Infantry Cadre Battalion under the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
According to Vice Mayor Cabag, he received a call from someone identifying himself as a member of the NPA who asked him to come to Trento to pick up something.
"Basta ila kong gipaadto unya gipahulat lang 'mi sa sakyanan (They asked me to go there and told us to wait in our vehicles). After a while, gihatod si (they brought over) Sergeant Baludoya with the instructions that he will be presented to Mayor Duterte," said Cabag in press conference late Tuesday night.
Vice Mayor Lu, who happened to be a medical doctor, immediately checked Baladuya's health.
"His blood pressure was normal plus his heart and lungs are well...meaning he was treated well," Lu said.
Both vice mayors said they did not know why they were singled out to pick up Baludoya but both were thankful that the soldier is now free to return to his family.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he is also happy that Baludoya is well.
"Maayo lang pud nga wala siya pasipad-i o gi-torture sa mga ningkuha niya (It's good that he was not hurt or tortured and for that I am thankful," Duterte said.
Duterte, however, hinted that it would be a telling story why Baludoya was returned after 25 days in captivity.
Baludoya's abduction was only confirmed two days before his release when the NPA came out with a statement to the press about their "prisoner of war."
Before that, news about the sergeant's abduction did not reach local news outfits here. Nor was there any hint of negotiations for his release.
Baludoya will be subjected to full medical check-up and intelligence debriefing.
Task Force Davao chief Alan Luga said whatever information gleaned from Baludoya's interview will be used to conduct operations against the rebels.
In a statement from the Merardo Arce Command-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command (SMROC) of the NPA, it claimed that Baludoya's release last Tuesday was reached in consideration of the appeals made by his family and a number of well-meaning individuals.
A special investigating body constituted by the Merardo Arce Command-SMROC has established prima facie evidence against Baludoya for the commission of crimes against the people and other violations of International Humanitarian Law.
It found out that in his 17 years in the military, Baludoya actively participated in combat, intelligence and special operations, and other destructive anti-revolutionary campaigns in the towns of Asuncion and Talaingod in Davao del Norte, in Loreto town in Agusan and in Davao Oriental, among others.
The rebel group said as a detachment commander of the 72nd Infantry Battalion, Baludoya led his unit in engaging in various coercive acts against the masses, all in violation of the International Humanitarian Law.
"He was indicted for the aforesaid crimes and is set to face revolutionary legal and judicial proceedings. However, in consideration of the appeals made by his family and a number of well-meaning individuals, the revolutionary forces through the Merardo Arce Command-NPA exercised its political authority through unilateral political decision to release POW Staff Sergeant Baludoya on humanitarian grounds," wrote rebel spokesman Rigoberto Sanchez.
The rebel group however warned that if Baludoya "continues to commit crimes against the people and the revolutionary forces his indictment by the kangaroo court will be revived and further substantiated and expanded."
During his detention, the rebels said, Baludoya was accorded humane and lenient treatment in accordance with his status as prisoner of war under the war protocols and the Geneva Conventions strictly observed by the NPA.
Baludoya was presented to Mayor Duterte, also the Regional Peace and Order Council chair, Tuesday evening at the Task Force Davao headquarters.
The Army sergeant is now undergoing debriefing and medical examination. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (May 10, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Military pulls out of metro barangays