An estimated 50 New People’s Army rebels raided a patrol base in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur and abducted12 militiamen and two soldiers on Wednesday, the military reported yesterday.
Army 4th Infantry Division chief Major Gen. Ronald Villanueva said NPA rebels belonging to the Sub-Regional Sentro de Gravidad Westland under alias “Momoy” and Guerilla Front 30 under alias “Megan” raided the New Tubigon patrol base at around 3 a.m.
Villanueva said the NPA abducted two soldiers and 12 Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit members and carted away a number of firearms.
He said the Army 3rd Special Forces Battalion is now pursuing the perpetrators who immediately fled after the incident.
Soldiers were sent to the area to investigate the incident.
Lt. Col. Rhoderick Parallag, commanding officer of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, said that the abducted soldiers are protected by the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law which requires the NPAs to inform their families of their capture, their status, and location.
The abducted soldiers also have the right under IHL to have contact with their families or relatives.
The NPAs has not informed the families of the abducted soldiers’ status and location.
AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. said that he has directed military units in the country to be on alert following recent attacks staged by the NPA against military and police detachments in the Bicol region.
Madrigal said the Army, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, has stepped up its security to repel NPA
attacks on government installations.
Madrigal said although the attacks could be considered just a form of “harrassment” as compliance to orders from higher ups to still show that they are a force to be reckoned with, they are not taking any chances.
“I have directed our units to be on alert. Also, Army units are in close coordination with the PNP, we strengthened the coordination due to their diversionary tactics,” Madrigal said.
“What’s important is we have pro-active measures to prevent them from attacking,” he added. (Francis T. Wakefield)