(davaotoday.com file photo by Ace R. Morandante)
By ACE R. MORANDANTE & JACOB P. NEPOMUCENO
Davao Today
COMPOSTELA VALLEY, Philippines – The New People’s Army (NPA) has simultaneously released its Prisoner of wars (POWs) Senior Police Officer 2 Allan Mariquit Pansoy and 71st Infantry Battalion’s Pfc. Jesus Tomas in two separate areas in this province, Saturday afternoon.
Two days ago, the National Democratic Front-Southern Mindanao has ordered their release “in response to the humanitarian appeal by the prisoners’ families, representatives from local government units, and peace advocates.”
Pansoy, armed escort of Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy, was arrested in a checkpoint mounted by the NPA Guerilla Front 2 last April 28 in Sitio Malamudaw, Maco town. He was turned over to the International Committee of the Red Cross, local government officials and peace advocacy group Sowing the Seeds of Peace in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Tomas was accosted last April 24 in Elizalde village, also in Maco town. He was turned over to Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who arrived via his private chopper.
The NDF said the arrest of Pansoy “reflected the NPA’s consistent compliance to the people’s defense guidelines banning armed politicians and campaigners in revolutionary territories,” while the arrest of Tomas “demonstrated the NPA’s commitment in exacting revolutionary justice against a fascist AFP unit responsible for killing and wounding of children under the pretext of “legitimate encounter” with the NPA.” (Ace R. Morandante & Jacob P. Nepomuceno/davaotoday.com)
ICRC, Liberation Movements, National Democratic Front of the Philippines, ndfp, NPA, Sowing the Seeds of Peace in Mindanao
