Thursday, August 30, 2007 NPA rebels abduct another soldier in Monkayo By Ben O. Tesiorna
ANOTHER soldier was abducted by suspected New People's Army (NPA) men in Monkayo, Compostela Valley bringing to two the number of government soldiers abducted in this province in one month.
Latest to be abducted is Sergeant Toto Gaila of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp).
Brigadier General Carlos Holganza, chief of the Army's 1001st Brigade, said Gaila was among the hundreds of commuters held for several hours by rebels at sitio Mabatas, Barangay Upper Ulip on August 27.
Around 9 a.m. Monday, the rebels were seen manning a checkpoint. Around 300 people passing through the rebel checkpoint were allegedly held temporarily by the rebels.
Among them were Gaila, PO1 Jerson Maniquiz of the Mt. Diwata police, and five other armed civilians.
Maniquiz and the other civilians were released that same day, while Gaila is believed to be still in the hands of the rebels as of this writing Wednesday.
The rebels also torched a 10-wheeler truck owned by the JB Management and Mining Corporation.
Reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed though that the rebels purposely waited for the truck owned by the family of Monkayo Mayor Manuel Brillantes Jr. and burned it before releasing the civilians they held for several hours.
The area where the rebels put up their checkpoint is where all vehicles traveling to and from Diwalwal will pass through to reach Monkayo town proper.
It was not clear though as to why the Army was unable to immediately take action on the rebels' atrocity.
Reports were rife that the military was apprehensive on taking action as the more than 100 rebels were holding about 300 civilians as "hostages."
Lieutenant Colonel Bienvenido Datuin Jr., chief of the Army's 28th Infantry Battalion, said they were only informed about the incident after the rebels left the area.
"The rebels held all the commuters who passed by the area. In fact the rebels got all their cellphones and removed all their simpacks," Datuin said.
"Kailangan talaga ng cooperation ng civilians with our vast area of responsibility from Agusan to Maragusan," he added.
Last August 10, Private First Class Marjun Gatela was also abducted by the rebels in Monkayo after a firefight in Sitio Kadapang, Barangay San Isidro. He was released four days later and turned over to Compostela Valley Governor Arturo "Chiongkee" Uy.
Monkayo Vice Mayor Avelino Cabag is reportedly facilitating the safe release of Gaila from his rebel captors.
The military is conducting their hot pursuit operation against the rebels.
