NPA rebels abduct soldier, cop in Compostela Valley
-A A +AFriday, January 18, 2013
MANILA -- Suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels abducted an off-duty soldier and a policeman in a village in Compostela Valley on Thursday, the Philippine Army said.
The abducted law enforcers were identified as Private First Class Jezreel Culango of the 60th Infantry Battalion and Police Officer 1 Ruel Pasion.
At least 30 NPA bandits posed as military soldiers and established a checkpoint at Sitio Mangob, Imelda village, Laak town.
Culango was held at gunpoint while Pasion, who passed by during the incident, was also collared by the rebels, who fled towards Tugpahan village with the victims.
The military said a team of soldiers and policemen were sent to pursue the bandits.
In his Facebook account, Army spokesperson Major Harold Cabunoc said "All of us must really condemn the use of armed violence by the NPA bandits."
The incident occurred few days after the NPA and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ended the holiday truce on January 15.
The incident also happened on the same day when Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista formally became the new AFP chief of staff, who urged the NPA to abandon their armed struggle and instead "pursue the road to peace." (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)
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