NPA captives?

From the Mindanao Times (Jan 4): NPA captives?

Nine residents in Barangay Tambobong, Baguio District are being held captive allegedly by communist rebels since Jan. 1, a delayed army report revealed. Lt. Col. Edgar P. Nigos, commander of the 84th Infantry Battalion, said in a telephone interview that the residents came from different sitios in the district who were reported missing by their relatives after New Year’s Day.

Four other civilians and three members of the government militia were also abducted last Dec. 30 but were released 12 hours later. The members of the Cafgu Active Auxilliary were identified as Artemio Sitoy, Romeo Bulod and Tony Pandian. The freed civilians were identified as a certain Jun Lopez, Junjun Alonzo and Tata Pandian, residents of Sitio Luyan, who were all abducted last Dec. 31. “The seven reported captives were released a little less than two days,” Nigos said. The captives were identified as Toto Belarmiya, Adonis Belarmiya, Elmer Amad and Toto Duyan who were all taken before the NPA anniversary last Dec. 26, 2012. All of them were residents of Sitio Laputan of said barangay, said the army statement.

Last Dec. 31, 2012, three more civilians were captured identified as Boyet Duyan and Joel Espina of Upper Tambobong and Lower Luyan of the same barangay and a certain Junjun Ogao, reportedly the grandson of the late Datu Causing Ogao who was killed by the NPA last July 2012.

“Another resident of Barangay Tambobong named Boy Betil was also abducted by the NPAs last Dec. 23, 2012 at Sitio Sayawan, Brgy. Salaysay, Marilog District, Davao City for suspicion of being a military informant,” 2Lt. Catherine Hapin, CMO officer of the 84th Infantry Battalion, said in a statement. Nigos then revealed that they have already put up a company-sized group in the area to provide security to residents. ,He then clarified that no offensive actions will take place since they will try to avoid confrontation, following the suspension of offensive military operation (Somo) that started last Dec. 16 and will end on Jan. 16. He added that the troops will continue to to conduct peace and development outreach programs in the area.

But the Communist Party of the Philippines gave out the order for its armed guerilla units to resume the offensives against soldiers and government installations after ending its ceasefire two weeks before the initial timeline. Nigos revealed that they are tapping local civilian leaders, particularly Datus in the area, to reach to the rebel group and locate the missing residents. “They are taking advantage of the Somo which should not be done. We are at risk of being attacked, though, we cannot violate our directives,” Nigos said.

The commander confirmed the presence of the NPA in Tambobong which to his estimate reach about 140 rebels. He said that three guerilla fronts are believed to be operating in the area, composed for 30-50 members. Reports reveal that the rebel group is led by a certain Ka Bobby, who continues to sow terror in in the said district.

http://www.mindanaotimes.net/npa-captives/