Search on for a soldier, cop captured by NPAs in Comval

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 21): Search on for a soldier, cop captured by NPAs in Comval

Members of the 60th Infantry Battalion continued to search the hinterland areas of Laak, Compostela Valley for the soldier and policeman abducted by the rebels on Jan. 17, two days after government ended its observance of the suspension of military operations (SOMO). Lt. Colonel Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division, said Private First Class Jezreel Culangao and PO1 Ruel Pasion remain in the hands of their captors who could have fled to Sitio Tugpahan, Brgy. Imelda in Laak town.

Paniza reminded the military and police personnel to be wary of the deception being employed by the rebel movement to score on its propaganda campaign. “We are still looking for the victims. The abduction is a desperate move of the rebels because their legal front failed in their propaganda. While the soldiers and police are busy in providing humanitarian assistance to the survivors of typhoon Pablo, the rebels are busy initiating violent criminal acts,” Paniza said.

He recalled that the rebel in military uniform accosted the victims when they passed on different time at a checkpoint in Sitio Mangob, Barangay Imelda 9 a.m. last Jan. 17. Paniza said the rebels staged a deception when they flagged down the victims. “Culango was on his way to visit his girlfriend in Brgy. Mangloy while PO1 Ruel Pasion, a member of the San Isidro Municipal Police Office just happened to pass by in the area,” he said. Paniza said both Culango and Pasion were off-duty and in civilian attire.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=489250