Masked men kidnap 2 NGO workers in N Cotabato

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Masked gunmen seized two people working for a nongovernment organization in the province of North Cotabato, the Philippine News Agency reported on Monday. The report said gunmen in military uniform snatched the duo - Mary Bernadette Solitario, 21, and Lourelie Naiz, 22 - in Batang village in the town of Tulunan on Saturday. Solitario and Naiz work for the Disaster Response Center (DIRECT) in Davao City and were on their way to investigate the reported clashes between government troops and communist rebels. Tulunan Mayor Nestor Taasan confirmed the incident, saying the duo had been taken by motorcycle-riding gunmen. "The workers were scheduled to monitor and evaluate last November 4 a DIRECT project in Barangay Batang where clashes between government troops and New People's Army rebels were going on," the report said. The Interfaith Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights, a human rights group in the province, has condemned the incident. "Such matter is a clear manifestation of human rights violation," Pastor Ernesto Estrella said. Solitario lives in General Santos City while Naiz is from Kidapawan City. There were no immediate statements from the police and military about the kidnappings, but the town has been the scene of clashes last week between government soldiers and communist rebels who raided a military detachment. Al Jacinto, GMANews.TV