NPA to release soldier captured in Monkayo ambush

After its "people's court" found him "not guilty," the New People's Army (NPA) on Monday night said it will release a soldier it captured during an ambush in Compostela Valley in Mindanao Friday last week. In a statement, the NPA's Alejandro Lanaja Command in Southern Mindanao said it will soon release "Prisoner of War" Pfc. Marjun Gatela of the Army's 72nd Infantry Battalion. "Results of the preliminary investigation conducted by the ALC and relayed to the NPA higher command revealed that Gatela (Serial Number 837898) has not committed serious crimes against the people on his own individual volition," said spokesman Ka Aris Francisco in a statement on the Communist Party of the Philippines' website, www.philippinerevolution.net. "His actions against the revolutionary movement and the people were merely a result of his being an element of the AFP. Not being an officer of his unit, POW Pfc. Gatela cannot be held liable for the crimes against the people and the human rights violations committed by the 72nd IB-AFP," he added. Because of this, he said the NPA's higher command has approved Gatela's immediate release as an exercise of the "revolutionary political authority" by the "People's Democratic Government." Francisco said Gatela will be released to his wife and family. The ALC-NPA shall assess the military and police's movement that might hamper the safe and orderly release of Gatela, he added. He said that while it had custody of Gatela, the NPA strictly observed his rights of Gatela, in accordance to his status as a POW. "This is in stark contrast to the AFP's practice of using torture, intimidation, physical, psychological and sexual abuse and killings towards its captives and political detainees," he said. On the other hand, Francisco warned Monkayo Mayor Manuel Brillantes and his men against continuing the use of the military in Compostela Valley and for employing his private army to repress peasants. "The NPA will always defend the interests of the oppressed and exploited. It will continue to inflict blows to the reactionary Army and police, and defeat the US-directed Oplan Bantay Laya of the fascist Arroyo regime," he said. - GMANews.TV