ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Benjamin Madrigal Jr. assured on Thursday, December 20, that an operation to rescue the two soldiers abducted by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was underway.
Madrigal said the troops in Agusan del Sur were also conducting an operation when the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked a detachment and abducted two soldiers.
“’Yung tropa nag-ooperate din during that time and apparently nasingitan ito ng pangyayari ito,” he said.
A report from the 4th Infantry Division said around 50 NPA rebels raided the newly established Tubigon Patrol Base in Sibagat town in Agusan. They took the two soldiers and carted away several M16 and M14 rifles and handheld radios.
Twelve Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) personnel were also reportedly held by the group.
“We have informed our units first (to) increase (ang) kanilang awareness and pro-active. We will be conducting an investigation,” Madrigal said.
“This is a new detachment, established only last May, kaya medyo kalayuan pati pagpunta ng tropa doon hindi basta-basta dahil nagiingat din,” he added.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Army could have been in a “relax mode,” making it easy for the rebels to attack.
“Maraming factor yan, of course siguro nag-relax siguro ‘yung detachment. Dalawa kasi ‘yung sundalo sa cadre plus 12 na Cafgu so 14, fully armed naman yan. Normally we expect the patrol to be conducted na hindi s’ya ma-over ran. So ang isang Angulo na tinitignan natin ay baka may nakapasok dyan na hindi nila alam siguro nagpanggap na kaibigan,” he said.
In a statement, the Communist party of the Philippines (CPP) congratulated its armed wing, the NPA, for the successful tactical offensive against the government which they said was due to the extension of the martial law declaration in Mindanao.
The communists said the abducted military personnel, whom they tagged as “prisoners-of-war,” were being treated leniently. The group said the soldiers would be “released soonest so long as the AFP relents in their offensive in order to pave the way for their orderly and safe release and give them the opportunity to be with their families this Christmas.”
They also maintained that the attack was not in violation of the unilateral ceasefire which the CPP central committee declared earlier.
“Just to set the records straight, the recent NPA offensives do not violate the CPP's unilateral declaration of temporary ceasefire which shall take effect on December 24 to 26 and December 31 to January 1 next year to celebrate the CPP's 50th anniversary and join the people in their holiday traditions,” it added. (SunStar Philippines)