NDFP-SMR will comply with order of release, subject to a SOMO/SOPO in North Cotabato, Bukidnon, and Davao City

Submitted by Kodao on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 00:29.

**NDFP-SMR will comply with order of release, subject to a SOMO/SOPOin

North Cotabato, Bukidnon, and Davao City**

PRESS STATEMENT

RUBY DEL MUNDO

Spokesperson, NDFP Southern Mindanao Region

2 October 2011

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines - Southern Mindanaowill

undertake the release of its four Prisoners of War (POWs) incompliance

with the political decision reached by the NDFP.

To expedite the implementation of the NDFP release order of the fourPOWs Jail

Inspector Murphy Bomoway Todyog (Badge No. 0-08021); JailWarden Erico

Dacillo Llamasares (Badge No. 0-07022); Special JailOfficer 2 (SJ02)

Rogelio Begontes (Badge No. 960187); and Jail Officer1 (JOI) Rolando Delta

Bajoyo, Jr.,the political leadership of theGovernment of the Philippines (GPH,

aka government of the Republic ofthe Philippines) must reciprocate by

immediately effecting asuspension of all offensive military and police operations

in areasbeing considered by the custodial unit as possible release site.

We have to bear in mind that the 6th and 4th Infantry Divisions -Eastern Mindanao

Command - Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) havecontinuously conducted

military operations packaged as “rescue”and “peace and development” operations,

despite calls by the POWsand their relatives for a temporary cessation of military

operationsso as not to jeopardize the POWs’ security. But the Eastmincom-AFP

did not heed these and instead intensified its operations in thehinterlands of North

Cotabato, Bukidnon and Davao City.

Hence, a SOMO and a SOPO are requisites to ensure the safe and orderlyprocess

of the release of the POWs to the International Committee ofthe Red Cross (ICRC)

and members of the independent humanitarian mission composed of GPH national,

regional and provincial officials,and church leaders who shall then turn them over to

their respectivefamilies.

The GPH SOMO and SOPO must cover the municipalities of Arakan,Antipas, Magpet,

Makilala, and Kidapawan City in North Cotabato; themunicipalities of Kitaotao, Quezon,

Kibawe, Damulog and Dangcagan inBukidnon; and the districts of Marilog, Baguio and

Calinan in DavaoCIty. The operating troops of the 27th Special Forces, the 57thInfantry

Battalion and the 61st Infantry Battalion –- which are allunder the 602nd Brigade-6th Infantry

Division-Philippine Army (PA) --and the 8th Infantry Battalion-403rd Brigade-4th Infantry

Divisionmust temporarily cease their offensive operations, including theircombat support

and special operations which wear the mask of “peaceand development” operations.

If and when the GPH orders a SOMO/SOPO, the POWs custodial unit shallundertake the

release procedures after it has verified the AFP and thePhilippine National Police's compliance