Press Statement
15 May 2012
NDFP-Mindanao hails NPA for the release of PO2 Juhaili
With the release today of PO2 Faizahl Juhaili (Serial #056452) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) somewhere in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao commends the New People’s Army in the Western Mindanao Region (NPA-WMR) for demonstrating strict adherence to international war protocols. The Red fighters in WMR, under the absolute leadership of the Communist Party, have once again exhibited not only its capability in combat but also its maturity in carrying out the special task of handling prisoners of war.
PO2 Juhaili became a captive of war consequential to the April 9, 2012 NPA raid on the Municipal PNP Headquarters in Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur, and placed him under the disposition of the unit of revolutionary people’s government. Under the NPA’s custody, PO2 Juhaili was afforded his rights vested in him as a prisoner of war, and, in being such, was subjected to a series of investigations carried out by the NPA who meticulously abided by the rules stipulated in the NPA 8-Points of Attention, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, and international laws of war.
The revolutionary political authority in the area reported that the investigation on PO2 Juhaili yielded no evidence to prove that he committed grave crimes against the people except that he only acted according to his duty as a police officer. At the same time, there were no formal charges filed against him to the court of the people’s democratic government. Therefore, there was no material basis anymore for his continued detention, warranting his release. While in custody, he cooperated well with and displayed a good attitude towards the members of the NPA’s custodial unit. Apart from these, PO2 Juhaili, already in his 50s and has seven children, is also being released on humanitarian grounds in response to the plea of his family, relatives and friends for his immediate safe release.
With this, we extend our red salute to the NPA unit in the Western Mindanao Region for adeptly executing the raid on the PNP Headquarters in Tibao, Zamboanga del Sur without a firefight and for the correct handling and safe release of the POW PO2 Faizahl Juhaili. During combat situations, in order to avert the unnecessary loss of lives, we ask the combatants from the opposite side of the armed conflict to desist from any attempt to resist when your opportunity to fight back is nil in order, especially so that you are only fighting as mercenary pawns defending the interest of plundering mining companies like the Toronto Ventures Inc. and other vested interests of the ruling class that pay you with people’s taxes. You have our assurance that we will respect your rights as hors d’ combat once you surrender to us in the course of any battle.
Moreover, we appeal to the AFP, PNP and other state armed apparatus to completely desist from torturing or, worse, from arbitrarily executing any member of the revolutionary movement whom you have seized, and to strictly abide by the CAR-HR-IHL and International Laws of War
Finally, congratulations to PO2 Juhaili for regaining his freedom. We hope
that his newly reclaimed freedom will not be used to once again promote the interest of oppressive, exploitative and destructive large-scale foreign mining, big drug syndicates and of other criminal and anti-people entities.
(Sgd.) Ka Oris
Spokesperson
NDFP-Mindanao
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