MAJOR General Ronald Villanueva, Army 4th Infantry Division (4th ID) commander, reiterated that they won’t negotiate for the release of two soldiers and 12 militiamen abducted by the New People’s Army (NPA) during a raid on their detachment in Sibagat town, Agusan del Sur, last Wednesday.
In an interview, Villanueva maintained that they do not negotiate with terrorists.
“Oo syempre, we don’t negotiate and bow down to terrorists, Villanueva said.
Earlier, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said that they will release the hostages if the military will stop its operations in the area.
Villanueva, at the same time, said he is hopeful that the CPP-NPA will respect the rights of the hostages and will not harm them while in captivity.
“Nasa kanila iyan, wala naman kaming kwan, they are in their hands and they know very well that these people also have rights, it will impose on them the international humanitarian law,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva said at present the government are scouring the areas where the terrorists are possibly hiding and took their hostages.
He added that reports stating that the two soldiers and militiamen were abducted due to alleged abuses they have committed are purely just propaganda.
Villanueva, earlier said NPA terrorists belonging to the Sub-Regional Sentro de Gravidad Westland under alias Momoy and Guerilla Front 30 under alias Megan raided the New Tubigon Patrol Base in Sibagat town, Agusan del Sur, at around 3 a.m. December 19, 2018.
Villanueva said around 50 NPA rebels abducted the two soldiers and 12 Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) members during the raid and carted away a number of firearms.
The two soldiers taken as hostages were identified as Pfc. Darlino A Cariño and Corporal Eric B. Manangan. (Francis Wakefield)
