Authorities to rescue abducted paramilitary personnel in Surigao

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Joint forces from military and police have launched rescue operation for a paramilitary member who was allegedly abducted by the leftist New People's Army (NPA) recently in the southern Philippines, local police said today.

The victim was identified as Ronald Macasarte, 20, a member from Cafgu Active Auxiliary (CAA) assigned at 23rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army patrol base in Sta. Juana village in Tagbina, a town of Surigao del Sur province, police spokesman for Caraga Region Martin Gamba said.

Investigation disclosed that the rebels from NPA's Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee seized Macasarte when the latter was on the way to his farm Thursday afternoon in Sta. Juana village, he said.

The military and the police have maximized their intelligence monitoring to track the movement of the leftist group while rescue operations continue, Gamba added.

The NPA, an armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front, has been waging war against the government for over four decades.