NPA seize soldier, policeman in Compostela Valley

From InterAksyon (Jan 18): NPA seize soldier, policeman in Compostela Valley

A soldier and a policeman were seized by New People’s Army guerrillas who had set up a checkpoint in Laak town, Compostela Valley Thursday, the military said. Major Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, commander of the Army's 10th Civil Military Operations Battalion, said 30 rebels, 12 of them in military uniform, set up the checkpoint at Sitio Mangob, Barangay Imelda at around 9 a.m.

The captives were identified as Private First Class Jezreel Culango, from a unit based in San Isidro, Davao del Norte and on his way to visit his girlfriend in Barangay Mangloy, and Police Officer 1 Ruel Pasion of the San Isidro police. The rebels then headed north towards Sitio Tugpahan, also in Barangay Imelda. Obligado said police and military personnel launched pursuit operations to rescue the two.

The incident happened the same day Lieutenant General Emmanuel Bautista assumed command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, an occasion the Communist Party of the Philippines greeted with orders to the NPA to step up offensives and two days after the longest ceasefire between the rebels and government forces ended on January 15.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/52988/npa-seize-soldier-policeman-in-compostela-valley