NPA won't release 2 captives

The National Democratic Front (NDF) said yesterday that a police major and an Army intelligence officer being held captive by the New People's Army (NPA) in Southern Tagalog "cannot be released."

NDF leader Luis Jalandoni added in a statement from the Netherlands that the NPA "is availing of favorable conditions for launching tactical offensives against the (government) and does not have the time for gratuitously releasing any prisoner of war."

"Our previous order of release for (Chief Inspector Abelardo) Martin has been rescinded," Jalandoni said, adding that the NPA has found "new evidence" against Martin that "requires further investigation and possible trial before the people's court."

He said Army Maj. Noel Buan is facing "charges of espionage and other serious crimes... (which) are pending before the people's court."

Jalandoni said the NPA is capable of "frustrating the military operations of the (Estrada) government to force their release."

The NDF blamed the government for "refusing for so long to engage in a mutual ceasefire with the (NPA) for the specific purpose of (Martin's) safe and expeditious release."

An independent panel, led by Sen. Loren Legarda, went to the Netherlands late last year to negotiate the release of Buan and Martin. The NDF acceded to the group's plea on condition that the military would suspend its operations in Southern Tagalog.