4 soldiers freed unhurt by NPA

BY DEXTER A. SEE

BOLINEY, Abra – A military officer and three other soldiers were released unhurt by New People’s Army rebels during a recent skirmish at the boundary of Manabo and Boliney, both towns in Abra.

This was confirmed by the NPA’s Agustin Begnalen command, which said the freed soldiers were treated well and accorded their full rights and privileges as prisoners of war.

Released from NPA custody were 2nd LT. Jeron Labrador Etrone, commanding officer of the Charlie company of the 41st Infantry Battalion, Sgt. Restino Agolowan Alabon, Sgt. Alexander Salvador Paulo, and Cpl. Benigno Soriano Jr.

The NPA stated it also gave back to the soldiers that seized two Cal. 45 pistols and personal belongings, including the two motorcycles they were riding when they were captured.

The released soldiers were supposed to reinforce government troops in a gun battle with the rebels in conflict-rocked Abra.

For the past several days, the NPA had launched successive offensives against the military.

In a statement, the NPA’s Agustin Begnalen command said the soldiers were released after the underground movement established they had no blood debts and records of human rights violation.

The turnover was reportedly witnessed by the barangay residents, and the soldiers signed a waiver that they were treated well and accorded the rights and privileges of prisoners of war.

The NPA said the soldiers were urged to resign from the Armed Forces of the Philippines .
If not, they were enjoined to uphold the comprehensive agreement on the respect of human rights and international humanitarian law signed by the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front in 1998.

The underground movement said the series of successful offensives, against government troops in Abra served as a continuing punitive action against the military and in response to the people’s clamor for retribution for alleged injustices inflicted by the military on them.

The 41st IB has a bloody record of torturing and killing civilians as human shields, the NPA statement said.