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“contributed photo) " width="350" height="233" />The NPA custodial force under the Crucifino Uballas Command during the release of their captives in Compostela Valley.”
He said the military detachments the three army personnel kept were put up precisely to destroy the NPA guerilla base. “Arresting them was a matter of defending the guerilla base,” Guinto said. He added that the military personnel also committed offense considered “serious” by the “revolutionary government.”
The Barangay Limbo detachment, which Bawagan headed, served as the combat support unit of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion during a military operation in February this year, Guinto said. He said a whole family was driven out of the place after soldiers took away their things and burned down their house. He was referring to a certain family named Geronimo, whose son, Roderick Geronimo, was also beaten by soldiers.
Alcala also led a detachment in the village of Anitapan in Mabini town. Guinto said that aside from threatening civilians and firing indiscriminately when they get drunk, soldiers also steal farm animals from the village for their pulutan. Guinto also said the NPAs received reports that the detachment allegedly has been a “source of illegal drugs.”
“These had been reported to us,” Guinto said. “As a matter of exercising the political authority of the people’s democratic government, we had to arrest them and investigate.”
A guerrilla fighter uncuffs Corporal Ariel Asumo (in white shirt). (contributed photo)
But he said the release of the prisoners will not clear them of the charges. “We’re only asking them to reform, otherwise, we’ll have to do what we need to do,” Guinto said.
NPA guerillas captured the four soldiers at the residence of Corporal Bawagan in Barangay Sawangan in Mawab during the birthday party of Bawagan’s three-year-old son.
Guinto said the NPA fighters timed the “arrest” when guests had not yet arrived.
But Guinto denied the military claims that the NPAs pointed a gun at the four soldiers during the “arrest” in full view of Bawagan’s children. Guinto said the children only saw “the handcuffing part.”
“The NPA arresting team were ordered to make the arrest as peaceful as possible,” Guinto said. He added they even had to wait for Bawagan’s wife to arrive to inform her of her husband’s arrest.
The NPA captives spent thirty four days in the forest.
Against appeals from their wives for the military to stop the operations to ensure the safe release of their husbands, the 10th Infantry Division commanding officer Major General Carlos Holganza deployed more pursuit troops against the NPAs.
The NPA custodial force under the Crucifino Uballas Command during the release of their captives in Compostela Valley. ((contributed photo)
Bawagan said he could already hear the guns firing at them but he felt assured upon hearing the NPA commander ordered the guerillas to ensure that they were safe.
The soldiers said they were not maltreated while in captivity. “They respected our rights and we are thankful,” said Bawagan during the brief turnover rites.
Clad in white t-shirts and jogging pants, the four were released to Mabini Mayor Amir Muñoz, and Mawab mayor Samuel Hampayas, a physician who immediately examined the freed prisoners at the release site. The four were brought to the Bishop’s house in Tagum City where they were united with their family. (Cheryll D. Fiel/davaotoday.com)
