Police major held by NPA killed in encounter; truce looms

President Arroyo is poised to declare a ceasefire with communists after a police officer held captive for over a year by the rebels died in the arms of government forces yesterday.

Police Chief Inspector Abelardo Martin, who was captured by New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas 16 months ago, reportedly died yesterday from injuries sustained during a gunbattle between patrolling Army Scout Rangers and his abductors in the mountains of General Nakar town in Quezon province.

Reacting to the incident, Mrs. Arroyo declared the government’s readiness to declare a unilateral suspension of military offensive (SOMO) against the communist rebels in the Quezon-Laguna area to speed up the safe release of Army Maj. Noel Buan who was also kidnapped by the insurgents about two years ago.

Martin’s wife, Nenita, was elated after being initially told that he was rescued.

"I am so happy I don’t know what to say," she said. "I will probably cook his favorite dishes, beef caldereta (stew) and fried chicken."

She was later told of her husband’s death while she was awaiting his return at Camp General Nacar in Lucena City.

A military helicopter could not airlift the wounded Martin to the hospital due to bad weather. The victim reportedly died about five hours later while being brought, along with wounded trooper Cpl. Jonalo Move, to nearby Infanta town aboard a banca.

Mrs. Arroyo pressed for the immediate resumption of peace talks with the communist rebels following Martin’s death.

Officials said the patrol team may have chanced upon the rebels who had previously agreed to release Martin and another prisoner.

Army Col. Anthony Alcantara said Martin "died in the company of his rescuers."

NPA rebels captured the 51-year-old Martin in November 1999 after raiding his station in Dolores, Quezon.

Officials said Martin was apparently being moved by his captors to unite him with Buan for their release.

Acting Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, citing field reports, said a bullet grazed Martin in the back. "It is very possible that during the exchange, in his attempt to run away from his captors, he was hit in the back, in the hips," he said.

But reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo said Martin, who was police chief of Dolores town, Quezon when he was snatched by NPA raiders, sustained a gunshot wound in the buttocks and two in the chest.

Martin’s only son died of a heart attack shortly after his capture.

The pre-dawn encounter took place as the troops were pursuing another NPA band which had raided a police station on nearby Polillo island last week, Army Maj. Jose Lachica said.

The soldiers, who belonged to the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, were deployed as a blocking force against the NPA guerrillas who swooped down on the police station in Bordeos town in Polillo last March 2.

He said the soldiers were not aware that Martin was travelling with the rebels, belying claims it was a botched rescue attempt.

"There was a chance encounter and there was a brief skirmish, and the rebels were surprised, leaving behind Martin," he added.

Lachica said Martin was shot in the back during the firefight, and bad weather prevented a military helicopter from bringing him to a hospital.

Jose Ma. Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, had assured Mrs. Arroyo on Monday that the NPA was ready to release Martin and Buan this month, prior to the revival of the peace talks between the government and the communist rebels.

Ermita also appealed to the rebels to immediately release Buan.

"We are appealing to our friends on the other side, for humanitarian reasons, to release Noel Buan, through whatever means possible... we we could avoid accidents like this," he said.

Ermita said the NPA leadership knows it was, indeed, a chance encounter. "There was no SOMO. There was no betrayal here."

Press Undersecretary Roberto Capco said despite Martin’s death, the President wanted to keep hopes for the peace process alive.

Mrs. Arroyo asked the rebels to reciprocate the government’s confidence-building efforts by releasing Martin and Buan.

The President ordered last week the release of 15 communist and Muslim insurgents. "We intend to release some more as soon as their papers are in order."

"We hope that the NPA will release Major Buan without any need for any rescue operation to take place," Capco said.

Nakar encounter won’t derail peace process

Ermita, who is also Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, reported to Mrs. Arroyo that the peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) may resume in early April.

Ermita said former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III, chairman of the government peace panel, is still in close contact with Sison in the Netherlands.

Mrs. Arroyo, who was originally scheduled to fly to Camp Nakar to meet with Martin and inspect various infrastructure projects in Laguna and Quezon provinces, called off the trip due to foul weather.

In her message, the President said Martin paid the supreme sacrifice for the country and people.

"Let not his death be in vain. His death also comes at a time when our administration is walking the extra mile so that we will have a meaningful and lasting peace in our time," Mrs. Arroyo said.

She directed Ermita and Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes to submit details of the projected SOMO, including duration and geographical coverage.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, himself a former AFP chief, said Martin’s death should not be an obstacle to the peace talks.

Biazon, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense, said the Nakar incident should also not deter the impending release of Buan.

Sen. Loren Legarda said she was shocked by the news of Martin’s death because he was initially reported to have been rescued and in good condition.

She called on both the government and the communist insurgents to observe a unilateral truce "to avoid another unfortunate and tragic incident."

Legarda expressed optimism that the incident would not derail the peace process being pursued by the Arroyo administration. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Perseus Echeminada, Cecille Suerte-Felipe, Marichu Villanueva, Romel Bagares