NPA postpones cop’s release

IGLESIA Filipina Independiente Bishop Felixberto Calang said the release of Police Officer 2 Anthony Natividad has been postponed following clashes between the military and the New People’s Army (NPA).

Calang, who has been acting as one of the third party facilitators to ensure the safe release of Natividad, said the rebels had originally scheduled the release last March 2 but moved back the schedule after a series of clashes with the military.

The rebels have not yet announced a new release date.

Calang said they remain confident that a date will be given immediately, especially after the positive back channel talks between the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)/NPA/ National Democratic Front and the National Government.

But it is important, he said, that skirmishes on the ground cease for the immediate release of Natividad and five others.

"Dunay need gyud nga panawagan nato nga i-stop ang skirmishes, aron makabwelo ta sa pag-release. As third party facilitator, ang demand sa NPA, atong dadon sa AFP, ang demand pud sa AFP ato pud nga dad-on ug i-air ngadto sa NPA, until makab-ot nato ang certain agreements and meet halfway (There really is a need for the clashes to stop. As the third party facilitator, we will relay the demand of the NPA to the government as well as relay the government’s demands to the NPA)," he said.

The bishop also weighed in on Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano's refusal to participate in the negotiations for release, a first time since the latter assumed as governor of Misamis Oriental. Emano said he needed to "cool down and relax" by stepping back for the meantime from the negotiating table, after he was accused by the military of harboring political prisoner turned peace consultant for the CPP Alfredo "Ka Paris" Mapano.

Calang said they understand Emano's decision and said the governor has offered to help in other ways.

"Ang iyang kahimtang sa governor, dili man gyud siya smooth-sailing kanunay, (The governor's situation is not always smooth-sailing) there are issues surrounding governance that he cannot simply avoid," he said.