AFP nixes prisoner swap proposal of NPA rebels

The military on Monday thumbed down the proposal of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for a prisoner swap, saying operations against the insurgents will continue despite the offer. “At the tactical level, we don’t do prisoners swap," said Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban. “The operations will continue." The NPA is currently holding four Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel who were abducted last July 21 in Bukidnon province. They were seized during the NPA's rescue of comrade Dennis Rodenas, who had been convicted for illegal possession of explosives. The rebels are asking the release of six of their detained comrades in exchange for the freedom of the four BJMP personnel. Aside from the four BJMP personnel, the communist rebels are also holding hostage Lingig, Surigao del Sur mayor Henry Danao, who was abducted from his residence in Sabangan village Thursday last week. Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade said the kidnappings cast a shadow on the sincerity of the communists in pursuing peace negotiations with the government, noting that Danao was kidnapped while government chief negotiator Alex Padilla and communist leader Fidel Agcaoili were meeting in Makati. “If they were really in command, why is it that on one hand the leaders are arranging peace talks and on the other their subordinates are conducting kidnappings? It is evident that there are discrepancies here," said Parlade. — KBK, GMA News