PNP condemns abduction of 5 Davao City cops

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police on Monday condemned the abduction five officers in Davao City over the weekend and promised their families that it will do all it can to bring them home.

In a statement, Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesperson, said that five officers led by Chief Inspector Leonardo Tarongoy "were intercepted and held against their will by a group of heavily-armed lawless elements wearing military uniform at Purok 5, Barangay Mapula, Paquibato District, Davao City."

He said the police officers were in a Davao City Police Office patrol car and were "performing [their] law enforcement function" when they were taken. Mayor did not identify the group that took the police officers but news reports point to the New People's Army.

"The PNP condemns this lawless act against PNP personnel who were only performing their duty to serve and protect the people. These police officers are but citizens who are working for the improvement of the standard of living of the people in Region 11," Mayor said.

He said that Police Regional Office 11, which has jurisdiction over the Davao Region, is already tracking down the armed men and are trying to find out where the captured police officers were brought.

"We assure the kin of these policemen that the PNP will exhaust all possible means to bring them back," he said.

He said that Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, the regional director for PRO11, has convened an emergency meeting with top staff to come up with contingency measures. Checkpoints have also been ordered set up to restrict the movements of the police officers' captors.

"As we speak, our military counterparts from the 84th Infantry Battalion, 68th Infantry Battalion and 60th Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division are conducting hot pursuit operations in their area of operation," he said, adding police regional offices in Northern Mindanao and Caraga are also ready to assist.

Mayor also reminded police personnel to "observe personal security measures" to avoid being abducted themselves.