PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CPP reminds Malacaņang, AFP of Bicol POWs
April 25, 2004

The Communist Party of the Philippines today pointed out that Malacaņang and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have yet to take concrete steps for the release of two soldiers held as prisoners-of-war (POW) by the New People's Army in Bicol.

CPP spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal reiterated the need for the government to negotiate with the National Democratic Front (NDF) and have the AFP 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 POWs.

The NPA Romulo Jallores Command currently holds Lt. Ronaldo Fedelino and Pfc. Ronnel Lemeņo as prisoners-of-war. Both were captured on March 1 in Tinambac, Camarines Sur in an NPA ambush on a section of the Philippine Army's 42nd IB led by Fedelino.

Since capturing the two POWs, the NPA has made clear its willingness to effect their immediate release as soon as an agreement is reached between the government and the NDF.

Rosal criticized the AFP for "stubbornly refusing to allow the GRP negotiating panel to work for the release of the POWs through negotiations and insisting on launching rescue operations which only endanger the lives of the POWs."

Rosal denounced mounting military abuses perpetrated against civilian communities in the course of such "rescue operations" in Tinambac and the adjacent towns of Goa and Lagonoy.

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553



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