An Appeal to Cease Militarization in COMVA

June 12, 2010

An Appeal to Cease Militarization in COMVAL
 to pave the way for the safe release of the four Prisoners of War

We, the family of the four Prisoners of War-- Corporals Marcial
Bawagan,  Ariel Asumo,  Eduardo Alcala, and militiaman Victor Pitogo,
who were held captive by the New People’s Army (NPA), and  members and
leaders of different church groups, peace advocates,  and from
different local government units  appeal to the officials of the
military’s 10th Infantry Division to hear the clamor for a safe and
expeditious release of the four captives by suspending  the military
operations in the hinterlands of Compostela Valley.

We are thankful that the POWs are being treated well by their captors.
We, however, note with concern that as the 10th ID soldiers continue
to scour the fields and conduct military offensives, the lives and
security of the four captives will be endangered, as well as the lives
and the safety of civilians in the villages.

As peace advocates from the church and as local officials, we believe
that the safest and most peaceful means that would expedite the
release of the POWs  would be through a negotiated release and an
agreement for  SOMO or Suspension of  Military Operations. Any
increased hostilities in the field would only lengthen the days of
captivity and risk the lives of the POWs.

We also believe that heightened military operations will pose threats
to the human rights situation and safety of the civilian populace,
more than those of the POWs. Then again, as the previous years have
shown, bombardment of civilian communities have not brought about the
peace and real progress in these far-flung areas but have only
fomented the armed conflict prevailing in our country.

The rights of civilians and that of the POWs are already enshrined in
our basic tenets on international humanitarian law and international
protocols guiding the civil war in our country. We are hopeful that
the laws would protect the POWs and that of the civilians, by way of
vigilance of the local governments, the church and other
non-government entities, and most especially, by way of full
cooperation on the part of the 10th ID.

We, thus,  reiterate our appeal to the officials of the Philippine
Army’s 10th Infantry Division to immediately stop its military
operation. We also appeal to the newly installed Benigno 'Noynoy'
Aquino administration to abandon the inhuman policy of all-out war
counter-insurgency program  and instead, pursue the peace negotiations
in addressing the roots of the armed conflict.###
Signed:
Genie B. Bawagan
Lydie Belle D. Asumo
Jovelyn T. Alcala
Exodus for Justice and Peace

For Reference:
Rev. Jurie Jaime
09198161876

This post was written by: Exodus for Justice and Peace

Exodus for Justice and Peace is a clergy-led peace group. Follow EJP on Twitter