DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 11, 2009) – Philippine communist rebels have freed a captured government soldier after nearly two weeks in captivity in Mindanao.
Rigoberto Sanchez, a spokesman for the New People’s Army (NPA), said Private First Class Ronnie Trinidad was freed on humanitarian grounds.
“The arrest, safe and orderly release of POW Trinidad amid the intense militarization in the countryside and the terrorism of the state against the people also indicates that Oplan Bantay Laya II of the criminal US-Arroyo regime is a big failure.”
“This, as the revolutionary forces continue to gain political and military headway against the fascist and most hated regime. The NPA has once again stood for high moral ang political ground unlike the terrorism and barbarity of the 10th Infantry Division-Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.
NPA rebels captured Trinidad, who belongs to the 66th Infantry Battalion, on April 28 at a checkpoint in the village of Pagsabangan in New Bataan town in Compostela Valley province.
Trinidad was released in the village of Ngan in Compostela town. The soldier’s release came a day after the military accused the rebels of violating Trinidad’s rights by holding him against his will, an accusation strongly denied by the NPA.
The rebels said Trinidad was held as a prisoner of war. The NPA seized Trinidad on while on his way to barracks with another soldier, Corporal Japhet Lavid, who was able to escape.
Sanchez said the freed soldier was investigated for possible human rights violations and other crimes related to the operations of his unit in Mindanao. He accused Trinidad’s unit of violating the rights of many innocent civilians in Compostela Valley province over the past six months during the military’s anti-insurgency campaigns.
Trinidad was freed after the soldier’s family and other groups appealed for his safe release, he said.
“This is also in consideration to the appeals made by well-meaning individuals and allies, and the family of POW Trinidad. POW Trinidad's case may be re-opened in the event of another justifiable arrest in the course of the people's war,” Sanchez said.
The NPA is the armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been waging a secessionist war in the country. Peace talks between Manila and the CPP-NPA collapsed in 2004 after both sides failed to sign an agreement to end more than four decades of bloody fighting. (Mindanao Examiner)
Showing posts with label Pvt. Ronnie Trinidad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pvt. Ronnie Trinidad. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Philippine Army accused NPA rebels of violating rights of captured soldier
DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 10, 2009) – Communist rebels continue to hold a government soldier the Philippine Army claimed was abducted in Mindanao.
It said New People’s Army (NPA) rebels abducted Private First Class Ronnie Trinidad, who belongs to the 66th Infantry Battalion, last month in the village of Pagsabangan in Compostela Valley’s New Bataan town.
The army accused the rebels of violating Trinidad’s human rights by holding him against his will.
“This is a clear violation of law. The longer that they will hold our soldier, the more pain that they will inflict to him and his family as they continuously hold him against his will,” said Major General Reynaldo Mapagu, the commander of the army division.
Mapagu said Trinidad’s family fears for his life and agonizes over his continuing captivity. He also quoted the solder’s mother, Juliet Trinidad, as saying: “He is our only hope in life. He is a good soldier whose only dream is to serve other people.”
Rebels seized Trinidad on April 28 while on his way to barracks with another soldier, Corporal Japhet Lavid, who was able to escape.
In January, NPA rebels freed a captured Special Forces commander, First Lieutenant Vicente Cammayo after holding him as prisoner of war for two months in Compostela Valley.
Cammayo was captured November 7 after rebel forces attacked his unit and killed two soldiers and a government militia in a fierce firefight in Casoon village in the town of Monkayo.
Last year, the rebels also released a policeman Eduardo Tumol, who was seized November 5 at a checkpoint in the village of Baogo in Davao Oriental's Caraga town.
The NPA said that both Tumol and Cammayo were investigated for possible human rights violations and other crimes related to the operations of the Special Forces and the Provincial Police Mobile Group in Mindanao.
The rebels said Trinidad also faces the same investigation. The NPA assured the soldier’s family that they will respect his rights as a prisoner of war.
“They claim to be vanguards of justice and people’s rights, but they have a record of violating the rights of the people with impunity. In the absence of due process, how can they say that justice is best served in the eyes of our people who recognize only the legitimate court of law?” Mapagu asked.
The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting the government for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.
Peace talks between Manila and the CPP-NPA collapsed in 2004 after both sides failed to sign an agreement to end more than four decades of bloody fighting. (Mindanao Examiner)
It said New People’s Army (NPA) rebels abducted Private First Class Ronnie Trinidad, who belongs to the 66th Infantry Battalion, last month in the village of Pagsabangan in Compostela Valley’s New Bataan town.
The army accused the rebels of violating Trinidad’s human rights by holding him against his will.
“This is a clear violation of law. The longer that they will hold our soldier, the more pain that they will inflict to him and his family as they continuously hold him against his will,” said Major General Reynaldo Mapagu, the commander of the army division.
Mapagu said Trinidad’s family fears for his life and agonizes over his continuing captivity. He also quoted the solder’s mother, Juliet Trinidad, as saying: “He is our only hope in life. He is a good soldier whose only dream is to serve other people.”
Rebels seized Trinidad on April 28 while on his way to barracks with another soldier, Corporal Japhet Lavid, who was able to escape.
In January, NPA rebels freed a captured Special Forces commander, First Lieutenant Vicente Cammayo after holding him as prisoner of war for two months in Compostela Valley.
Cammayo was captured November 7 after rebel forces attacked his unit and killed two soldiers and a government militia in a fierce firefight in Casoon village in the town of Monkayo.
Last year, the rebels also released a policeman Eduardo Tumol, who was seized November 5 at a checkpoint in the village of Baogo in Davao Oriental's Caraga town.
The NPA said that both Tumol and Cammayo were investigated for possible human rights violations and other crimes related to the operations of the Special Forces and the Provincial Police Mobile Group in Mindanao.
The rebels said Trinidad also faces the same investigation. The NPA assured the soldier’s family that they will respect his rights as a prisoner of war.
“They claim to be vanguards of justice and people’s rights, but they have a record of violating the rights of the people with impunity. In the absence of due process, how can they say that justice is best served in the eyes of our people who recognize only the legitimate court of law?” Mapagu asked.
The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting the government for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.
Peace talks between Manila and the CPP-NPA collapsed in 2004 after both sides failed to sign an agreement to end more than four decades of bloody fighting. (Mindanao Examiner)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Troops mount rescue ops after rebels seized army man in Mindanao
DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 29, 2009) – Philippine troops launched fresh operation to rescue an army soldier seized by communist insurgents in the restive region of Mindanao, officials said.
Officials said New People’s Army rebels seized Private Ronnie Trinidad at a check point on a hinterland village in New Bataan town in Compostela Valley province on Tuesday.
Another soldier, Corporal Japhet Lavid, was able to escape and reported the matter to his unit. Both soldiers, who belong to the 66th Infantry Battalion, hitched a ride on a logging truck and were on their way to their barracks when seized by rebels, said Captain Rosa Maria Cristina Manuel, a regional army spokeswoman.
The driver, she said, was not harmed by the rebels who targeted the soldiers. Both infantrymen came from a hospital for a medical check-up. “There is a search and rescue operation going on,” she said.
In January, NPA rebels freed a captured Special Forces commander, First Lieutenant Vicente Cammayo after holding him as prisoner of war for two months in Compostela Valley.
Cammayo was captured November 7 after rebel forces attacked his unit and killed two soldiers and a government militia in a fierce firefight in Casoon village in the town of Monkayo.
Last year, the rebels also released a policeman Eduardo Tumol, who was seized November 5 at a checkpoint in the village of Baogo in Davao Oriental's Caraga town.
The NPA said that both Tumol and Cammayo were investigated for possible human rights violations and other crimes related to the operations of the Special Forces and the Provincial Police Mobile Group in Mindanao.
The rebel group accused the 3rd Special Forces Battalion to which Cammayo belongs, as responsible for the series of violations to human rights, protocols of war and international humanitarian law in Compostela Valley province.
The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting the government the past four decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. Peace talks between Manila and the CPP-NPA collapsed in 2004 after both sides failed to sign an agreement to end more than four decades of bloody fighting in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
Officials said New People’s Army rebels seized Private Ronnie Trinidad at a check point on a hinterland village in New Bataan town in Compostela Valley province on Tuesday.
Another soldier, Corporal Japhet Lavid, was able to escape and reported the matter to his unit. Both soldiers, who belong to the 66th Infantry Battalion, hitched a ride on a logging truck and were on their way to their barracks when seized by rebels, said Captain Rosa Maria Cristina Manuel, a regional army spokeswoman.
The driver, she said, was not harmed by the rebels who targeted the soldiers. Both infantrymen came from a hospital for a medical check-up. “There is a search and rescue operation going on,” she said.
In January, NPA rebels freed a captured Special Forces commander, First Lieutenant Vicente Cammayo after holding him as prisoner of war for two months in Compostela Valley.
Cammayo was captured November 7 after rebel forces attacked his unit and killed two soldiers and a government militia in a fierce firefight in Casoon village in the town of Monkayo.
Last year, the rebels also released a policeman Eduardo Tumol, who was seized November 5 at a checkpoint in the village of Baogo in Davao Oriental's Caraga town.
The NPA said that both Tumol and Cammayo were investigated for possible human rights violations and other crimes related to the operations of the Special Forces and the Provincial Police Mobile Group in Mindanao.
The rebel group accused the 3rd Special Forces Battalion to which Cammayo belongs, as responsible for the series of violations to human rights, protocols of war and international humanitarian law in Compostela Valley province.
The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting the government the past four decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. Peace talks between Manila and the CPP-NPA collapsed in 2004 after both sides failed to sign an agreement to end more than four decades of bloody fighting in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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