Police ordered to file cases vs NPAs in abducting soldiers in Davao City

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 26): Police ordered to file cases vs NPAs in abducting soldiers in Davao City
 
Regional police director Chief Supt. Jaime Morente has ordered Davao City police authorities to file the necessary criminal charges against the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) tagged in snatching and holding five government troops in Paquibato District, this city last June 17.

In a memorandum, city police director Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa in turn, directed the station commander of Paquibato Police Station to coordinate with the Philippine Army in preparing charges against the rebels.

Five soldiers identified as Corporal Emmanuel Quezon, Privates First Class (PFC) Vernie Padilla, Marteniano Pasigas, Ronald Gura and Donato Estandian, all of Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion are presently in the hands of the NPAs after they were snatched in a checkpoint mounted by the rebels.

Military deputy spokesperson Captain Raul Villegas, of 10th ID, earlier condemned the act of the NPAs.

Villegas said the government troops, who were in civilian attire and without firearms, were on their way to the market to purchase supplies when they were snatched by the rebels.

“It is very unfortunate that the NPA bandits took advantage of the situation to achieve their barbarity,” Villegas quoted as saying.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brigadier General Domingo Tutaan Jr. also lambasted the NPAs saying “we strongly condemn this act of abducting soldiers who are not in combat mission. The troops were in civilian attire and without any firearms when they went to the market for peace and development mission with an NGO that would benefit the community.”

But two days after, the NPAs through Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago came up with a statement confirming that the five soldiers are in their hands and being held as prisoners of war (POWs).

Parago claimed that their act in snatching the soldiers are “meant to punish the AFP units, particularly the Civil Military Operations (CMO)-10th ID under Maj. Jake Obligado for continuing to encroach, settle and conduct psychological warfare and intelligence operations in all villages of Paquibato District.”

Parago also warned that the military efforts to rescue the captured soldiers would endanger the lives of the POWs.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=538216