By Cris Diaz
MISAMIS ORIENTAL, July 23 (PNA) -– The provincial government of Misamis Oriental has created a committee that will coordinate with the military and stakeholders for the safe release of the captured Army soldier here.
Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano on Thursday said that the provincial government created the crisis committee through Executive Order No. 12 a week after the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels captured PFC Adonis Lupeba last July 11.
He said that the committee composed of senior officials of the provincial government would coordinate with “all parties involved and within the bounds allowed by law,” to secure the safe release of Lupeba.
Emano said that the committee would also invite members of the family of the captive soldier and other related entities and personalities during committee meetings.
Emano also appointed Bishop Felixberto Calang, of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) as committee adviser along with the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) as the committee facilitator.
He said that the committee would also coordinate with the national government agencies such as the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) for the necessary procedures related to the safe release of the soldier.
The NPA rebels captured Lupeba, a member of the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion, when the rebels stormed an Army outpost in the hinterland village of Alagatan in Gingoog City last July 11 where a soldier was killed and four others, including two civilians were wounded. (PNA)