Police and military authorities here suspected that the
abduction of a soldier by New Peoples’ Army (NPA) in North
Cotabato could be a retaliatory attack following the bloody April
1 dispersal of protesting farmers.
This after responding elements of 39th Infantry Battalion
and North Cotabato police recovered several
sacks with markings “Justice for Darwin Sulang” in a highway in Barangay
Malasila, Makilala town where Private First Class Edgardo Hilaga was abducted
on April 21.
Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry
Division, said the military remained clueless as to the real motive in the
abduction of PFC Hilaga.
“We are coordinating with the local police in determining
the motive,” Petinglay told reporters.
“In the meantime, our focus is how to rescue Hilaga safely
and without bloodshed,” she added.
About 30 heavily armed men in fatigue uniform disguised as
soldiers implementing election gun ban flagged down Hilaga who was driving a
motorbike.
Petinglay said Sulang who was in civilian clothes immediately
identified himself as a soldier he noticed green colored Army roadside and
signage of the Commission on Elections.
“He was not actually the target, it was just coincidental
that Hilaga passed by,” she said, adding the captive was a member of 7th
Infantry Battalion based in Kabacan, North Cotabato and part of a medical team
conducting medical outreach program for indigent residents.
Hilaga was a barber and can do circumcision operation that
the Army conduct in its outreach program to poor communities in its area of
operation.
Supt. Bernard Tayong, speaking for the North
Cotabato police, said responding elements of Makilala PNP found
several empty sacks with markings calling for justice to a slain farmer.
Sulang was among the protesters in Kidapawan killed during
the dispersal. Police and Army intelligence community found out that the
farmers were infiltrated by communist guerrillas.
“We are trying to determine if the abductors participated in
the protest march and if the abduction was a form of retaliatory tactic of
communist rebels,” Tayong told reporters.
Several placards used during the Kidapawan protests were
also found at the roadside where the NPAs flagged down passing vehicles.
The abduction of PFC Hilaga came a day after the second
Senate Justice committee investigation in Manila
No word from the NPA about the abduction.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=879275
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