Call for release of NPA leader slammed

THE 1003rd Infantry Brigade (IBge) slammed a human rights group for seeking the release of the wounded notorious highranking leader of the New People's Army (NPA) who is facing multiple charges and is responsible for several atrocities in Southern Mindanao.

In yesterday’s press forum at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) conference room, 1003rd IBge commander Brigadier General Ernesto Torres assured the public they will uphold the rule of law and will give humane treatment to the arrested leader identified as Elizalde Cañete alias Jinggoy, who is currently undergoing medical treatment Don Carlos Doctors Hospital, Don Carlos, Bukidnon.

Torres said that human rights groups have nothing to worry with hospital arrest that they implemented following the statement released by Exodus for Justice and Peace who made such appeal based on humanitarian grounds and in pursuance to the re-opening of the peace talks between the government (GPH) and the National Democratic Front (NDF).

“They need not lecture us on those things, we know that very well but probably they have to realize that actually it is an effort of the some organization to probably downplay the significance of the arrest of Jinggoy and probably it is an attempt to exonerate him from the charges that are against him,” Torres said.

The Human rights group wants a humanitarian consideration for Cañete who was seriously wounded during an encounter in Bukidnon with the troops. They pointed that under the Geneva Convention and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), wounded combatants or Hors de Combat must be protected from attacks as they are incapable of engaging in combat, and must be accorded rights to medical care and other rights under IHL.

“Despite the atrocities that he has committed in the past, the [AFP] organization is still doing its best to protect him so that he would be made answerable to the atrocities that he has committed,” he said.