Soldier escapes from NPA captors

A Philippine Army soldier successfully escaped from his New People's Army abductors in Man-ay, Davao Oriental, the military announced on Saturday.

Corporal Johannes Parreño, a soldier from the 28th Infantry Battalion who was abducted by NPA gunmen last June 10, escaped from his captors Friday afternoon, after which he sought refuge with officials of Barangay Lambog.

The barangay officials then helped Parreño find his way to the 67th Infantry Battalion's tactical command post.

The corporal was abducted together with CAFGU Active Auxiliary Dindo Sagayno last June 10 while they were on their way back from a school-supplies-giving activity in Taragona, Davao Oriental.

Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Thadeus Obligado, the 67th IB's commander, credited Parreño's escape to the support of the local community and to the pressure his soldier had put on the NPA gunmen.

"With the support of the local government officials and the people of Davao Oriental we have been tracking the abductors which became the basis of the sustained and relentlessly focused military operations by 701st Brigade units (67IB and 28IB ) to rescue our troops, which eventually paid off,"  Obligado explained.

"This is a rare feat, in which NPA captives were able to escape from their captors without any negotiations." — DVM, GMA News