Church leaders to mediate release of captive…

LOCAL church leaders are playing active roles to ensure the immediate release of the two soldiers held captive by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Bukidnon almost two months ago.

Prelates both from the Roman Catholic and Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) churches have confirmed over the weekend their part in facilitating the release of Private First Class Marnel Cinches and Private First Class Jerrel Yorong.

Cinches and Yorong, personnel of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) who are assigned under the Community Organizing for Peace Development (COPD), were captured by members of the NPA on August 22, 2014 on their way to Barangay Buntungon in Impasug-ong town, Bukidnon.

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, head of the archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, said church officials from various faiths are mediating for the soldier’s freedom.

Ledesma hopes that Cinches and Yorong will be freed in the coming days.

“We hope this will be soon,” he added.

Bishop Felixberto Calang, of the IFI, is also optimistic that it won’t be long before the captured soldiers can come back home.

Sought help

In an interview during the launching and signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) of the Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan (Ubas) held at a hotel here on October 11, Calang said he and the other church officials have sought the help of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, who was the guest of honor of the Ubas launch.

The Ubas launching was also attended by Ledesma, City Mayor Oscar Moreno, and other officials from the local government and church sectors.

“Our efforts are ongoing. In fact, we have just talked with Secretary Mar Roxas, who told us he is working on that. We also urged him to talk to (Department of National Defense) secretary (Voltaire) Gazmin since 50 days na ‘ni (capture),” Calang told this paper.

As ranking officials of the DILG and DND, respectively, Roxas and Gazmin could command the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to suspend its combat operations to ensure the safe conduct of the captives’ release.

Calang said the suspension of military and police operations (Somo and Sopo) was the only condition the NPA has asked to free Cinches and Yorong.

“Secretary Roxas told us the police won’t be a problem, and if the military is okay (with the Somo), the police will also do it,” he furthered.

Somo, sopo temporary suspension

In a statement to the media, the NPA has asked the PNP and the AFP to enforce the Somo and Sopo from September 10 to 20, 2014 so it could facilitate the release and safe passage of the captured soldiers, but it fell through as the police and military refused to temporarily suspend their combat operations.

Calang said all the church and local government officials involved in the mediation will meet early this week to synchronize their efforts since each group has created their own initiatives.

Calang said Moreno, governors Yevgeny Vincente Emano Jose Maria Zubiri, of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon, respectively, heads of the crisis committees in their respective jurisdictions, are expected to attend the meeting, along with Ledesma.

The IFI Bishop said it has already been agreed by the conveners of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform – among them Ledesma, Bukidnon Bishop Jose Cabantan, IFI Malaybalay Bishop Antonio Ablon, and Bishop Melzar Labuntog of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) – that they will spearhead in the release efforts of the two soldiers.

Calang said the IFI’s participation in the mediation of the captives’ freedom has more weight since Cinches is an IFI member.

“Concerned kaayo ‘mi for his and Yorong’s safety. Our goal is to preserve their lives through our efforts, and that they will be released,” he added.

Humane treatment

Based on the information they had gathered, Calang said Cinches and Yorong have been treated humanely by their captors, adding that the protocols of war and the Geneva Convention were observed.

In a statement released by the NPA to the media on September 21, 2014, right after their request for a 10-day temporary cessation of police and military operations expired, the guerrilla fighters assured the soldiers’ families and the public that the captives are afforded humane treatment based on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and other international laws on warfare.

Calang said he and other clerics are asking the NPA to remain patient until their request for Somo and Sopo is met, adding that it is the only condition the rebel group has asked from the government in exchange for Cinches and Yorong’s freedom.

He added the military has a “moral obligation to address the problem by way of considering the need (for Somo and Sopo).”

When asked by Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro his participation in the mediation process, Moreno, the chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), said: “We’re working on it,” referring to the release of Cinches and Yorong.