Suspected NPA rebels abduct 2 cops, 4 militiamen in Agusan Sur

Two policemen and four militiamen were snatched by suspected New People's Army rebels in two separate kidnapping incidents in Agusan del Sur over the weekend, authorities said Tuesday.

 

Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, Philippine Army spokesperson, said Mario Libanda, Tuloy Libanda, Rejoy Francisco and Rubio Asalan—all members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu)--were kidnapped by around 30 communist rebels in Barangay Mahayhay in San Luis town last Saturday.

 

Cabangbang said the four were riding motorcycles on their way to Barangay Binicalan when they were “subjected to a checkpoint and subsequently abducted” by suspected NPA rebels.

 

The Caraga provincial police, meanwhile, reported that PO2 Ronald Alan Muñez and PO1 Nemuel España were also abducted by suspected communist rebels last Sunday.

 

The policemen were responding to a stabbing incident in Barangay Poblacion in Loreto town when they were kidnapped, the police report added. Loreto is located two municipalities away from San Luis, where the militiamen were kidnapped earlier. 

 

The reported abduction of the two police officers came two weeks after the NPA released PO3 Ruben Nojapa Jr., who was abducted by communist rebels last March 18 in Compostela Valley. Pursuit operations are currently being conducted to locate the kidnap victims and their abductors, authorities said.

 

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been waging war against the Philippine government for over four decades now. Formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front have remained stalled 2004. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News