THE military yesterday advised the New
People’s Army to take advantage of the government’s four-day
Christmas truce to release 1Lt. Vicente Cammayo, a Special Force
team leader who has been their captive since last month.
"We are giving them the signal. We have the
SOMO (suspension of offensive military operation) already so
they should do their part (by releasing Cammayo)," said Army
spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner.
The communists had earlier asked the military
to stop military operations in Compostela Valley so they can
release Cammayo. This was rejected by military leaders who said
rescue efforts for Cammayo will continue.
Cammayo and his men were ambushed by at least
a hundred rebels in a remote village in of Monkayo town last
Nov. 7. The fighting resulted in the death of two Special Forces
soldiers and a militiaman and the wounding of Cammayo who was
subsequently taken as prisoner of war by the rebels.
Brawner said that on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1, rescue
efforts will also be halted as well as military offensives as
part of the SOMO. "The NPA has asked for the halt of the
offensive. This is our best answer now. We are stopping our
offensive operations for (four) days so they NPA should make
good their pronouncement that they will release Lt. Cammayo if
we stop the operations." – Victor Reyes
