NPA captures soldier, hurts 5 others in twin attacks

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A soldier was captured while 5 others were hurt in two separate attacks by communist guerrillas in Mindanao over the weekend. 

Capt. Alberto Caber, public information officer of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, said about 30 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) seized a soldier from the 26th Infantry Battalion in KM16, Barangay Policarpo, San Luis town, Agusan del Sur on Saturday morning, September 19. 

The soldier was in a motorcycle along with village councilman Reneboy Galino when waylaid by the rebels, Caber said. 

Caber said soldiers are now conducting pursuit operations to rescue the captured soldier.

Meanwhile, one Army officer and 4 soldiers from the 8th Infantry Battalion were injured after they were hit in an explosion in Barangay Pagan, Kitaotao in the province of Bukidnon on Sunday morning, September 20. 

A firefight ensued and lasted a few minutes after the explosion, Caber said. 

Caber said soldiers discovered bloodstains and medical paraphernalia in the rebel position after the NPAs retreated toward the jungle.

“The soldiers were immediately brought to a medical facility for treatment,” Caber said. 

The wounded were identified as 2Lt Noel Manalang, Sgt Ruel Lavalle, Pfc Abdurasan Ibnomusa, Pfc Ravi Pamalison, and Pfc Marvin Dancel.

Peace advocates are calling on the government and the National Democratic Front to resume the stalled negotiations to address the root causes of the conflict.

Talks resumed in the early years of the Aquino administration but hit a roadblock a couple of years ago.

The NPA is behind Asia’s longest running insurgency. – Rappler.com