Rebels snatch Aurora teacher

MA. AURORA, Aurora — Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas abducted an elementary school teacher here last Saturday, but freed him the following day after he convinced them that he was not a military informer.

Col. Jovenal Narcise, commander of the Army’s 70th Infantry Brigade, said seven men snatched Calixto Ngatib, who teaches at the Dumatol Elementary School here, as he was on his way to Barangay Decoliat on board a motorcycle.

The abductors, Narcise said, were led by one Apolinario Friginal alias Ka Marcial.

Narcise directed Lt. Col. Herbert Yambing of the 701st IB to convince Ngatib to cooperate with military probers in identifying his abductors.

"We are encouraging him to sign an affidavit so he could also file cases against his abductors with the Commission on Human Rights," he said.

Meanwhile, Narcise ordered a manhunt against one Giden Blasi after a raid on his house in Barangay Dimasetset in Dilasag, Aurora over the weekend uncovered evidence allegedly showing that he was lending support to the insurgents.

Soldiers led by 2Lt. Romano Padua raided Blasi’s home after residents informed authorities that armed men were frequenting it.

The raid yielded a flag of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA, ammunition for caliber .30 Garand and NPA training manuals. — Ding Cervantes