Friday, July 15, 2016

‘Bantay Kalikasan’ members abducted by NPA

From the Manila Bulletin (Jul 12): ‘Bantay Kalikasan’ members abducted by NPA

Two members of the Bantay Banwa, or Bantay Kalikasan, were abducted by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at Barangay Pangi, some six kilometers from Tandag City, in Surigao del Sur province, a report reaching the police regional headquarters here yesterday said.

An initial report reaching the regional command and tactical operation center of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) based at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez here from Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO) said Jesus Matin-ao, 50, and Ramil Aguirre, 35, were heading towards the coconut lands in Barangay Pangi when they were abducted by about 60 fully armed NPAs at 6 a.m. Friday.


The unidentified men, some of them women, were armed with AK-47 and M16 Armalite rifles and were dressed in full-combat military uniforms. There were reportedly led by certain alias “Nicko” of guerilla-Front Committee 30 of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NMRC), reported Surigao del Sur PPO director Senior Supt. Romaldo G. Bayting.

In his report to Chief Supt. Rolando B. Felix, regional director of PRO 13, Senior Supt. Bayting said the two “Bantay Kalikasan” members were believed to have been taken to a remote area in Barangay Pangi.

However, after few hours, the abductors released Matin-ao.

Aguirre was still in the hands of his abductors after he was tagged as an alleged informant of the government security forces operating in Surigao del Sur, Bayting said.

Elements of city and provincial mobile forces and Tandag City Police Station (TCPS) police force, along with combat maneuvering troops of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade based in Tandag City are still conducting pursuit operations to rescue Aguirre, he added.

The CPP-NPA-NMRC has not issued any statement on the abduction of the two “Bantay Kalikasan” members.

It could be recalled that on July5, PO1 Richard Yu Jr. of the Carmen Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Carmen town was also abducted, and the NPA in that same province already claimed responsibility of that incident.

His fate was still not known as the NPA custodial force was still conducting validation on his work as police officer, said CPP-NPA spokesperson certain Ka Sandara, in a recent interview with a local radio station here.

http://www.mb.com.ph/bantay-kalikasan-members-abducted-by-npa/

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