Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Rebels may have captured soldiers during blockade
By Cris Panganiban
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur -- The New People's Army (NPA) members who blockaded the highway in Surigao del Sur on Monday may have taken three soldiers as captives.
Passengers of Bachelor Express bus, who asked not to be identified, said there were soldiers with them when their vehicle was stopped.
The rebels stopped hundreds of motorists, among them Chief Inspector Floriano Ravelo Jr.--police chief of San Francisco town in Agusan del Sur, at Barangay Campbagang in Barobo, Surigao del Sur,
Ravelo confirmed that he saw, from his side mirror, three men in fatigue uniforms being led away by the rebels at gunpoint, one of whom had his hands tied.
Ravelo was off-duty at that time and was in civilian clothes as he and his family were on their way to the beach in Barobo to celebrate his wedding anniversary.
He was warned of the blockade by his son John Lou, who drove ahead of him, and was able to hide his identification cards and guns.
Ravelo said even his son confirmed seeing a uniformed man who was tied by the rebels to a tree.
According to the bus passengers, the rebels fired at the tires of the bus upon learning that three soldiers were among the passengers.
As of Monday, however, there has been no confirmation yet from the 402nd Army Brigade based in New Leyte in Prosperidad town on whether any of their men were missing.
According to Ravelo, the rebels, numbering around 50, were all very young. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(July 26, 2006 issue)
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