5 April, 2001

RELEASE OF POW MAJOR BUAN IS CERTAIN IF NO 
VIOLATION OF SOMO AND SOPO

By Jose Maria Sison

NDFP Chief Political Consultant

The prisoner of war, Philippine army intelligence officer Major Noel Buan, is certain to be released in Mindoro Oriental if no untoward incident is caused by the AFP, PNP, CAFGU or any armed group of the GRP in that province.

I hope that President Macapagal-Arroyo will comply with the request of the NDFP national executive committee, through NDFP negotiating panel chairman Luis Jalandoni, that she issue the strictest orders for the following to be undertaken before 6 April 2001.

1. All Special Action Forces of the PNP in San Mariano, Roxas, San Antonio, Mansalay and Cagulong, Mansalay (on the land of Col. Gallego, retired) should be confined to barracks at the poblacion of Bulalacao, Mindoro Oriental.
2. All checkpoints from Puerto Galera to Bulalacao should be removed and the RSAF units should be confined to provincial headquarters in Calapan, Mindoro Oriental.
3. All Military Intelligence Tactical Units (MITU) of the AFP in Mindoro Oriental should be pulled out and confined to Calapan, Mindoro Oriental or all the way to GHQ in Manila.

All the abovementioned forces should stay in their barracks up to 11 April 2001 in order to ensure the safe and orderly release of Major Buan and the withdrawal of the NPA custodial force.

I am informed that the safe and orderly release procedure is all set, with the cooperation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the GRP and the NDFP negotiating panels, the humanitarian and peace mission, the Philippine Peace Center and other respected entities.

The continuance of the mutual ceasefire of the GRP and NDFP up to 11 April 2001 in the Mindoro and Calabarzon provinces will enhance the favorable atmosphere for the solidarity conference for peace in Manila on 18 April and the resumption of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations on 28 April in a neutral venue abroad. #