DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 17 Apr) – New People’s Army fighters have seized a government soldier at a rebel checkpoint in the southern Philippines, police said on Tuesday.
Police said the rebels are holding Army Sgt. Albert Balodoya, a detachment commander, in the town of Cateel in Davao Oriental province. The soldier was on his way to the town when seized at the checkpoint in the village of Aliwagwag on Monday.
There was no immediate statement from the Philippine Army about the abduction of the soldier. Police said Balodoya is a member of the 67th Infantry Battalion based in Cateel town.
Balodoya may have mistaken the rebels for government soldiers because they were clad in military uniform, police said.
Security forces were sent to the town to pursue the rebels and rescue the soldier. The fate of the soldier remains unknown.
The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting the government for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.
The rebels have previously seized government soldiers and policemen in the country and put them on trial on the so-called people’s court.
Those found guilty are executed, but most of the victims are freed after months of captivity to neutral groups, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross. (Romy Bwaga)
No comments:
Post a Comment