"The latest text message we got was from a civilian who saw (Maj. Neptune Eliquin) still alive and in the hands of the NPA band which has been fleeing from their pursuers," said Col. Preme Monta, spokesman of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).
Monta said the Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion has distributed cellular phone numbers to villagers in areas where communist rebels are believed to be keeping Eliquin.
The civilians, in turn, were encouraged to pass on the cellphone numbers to their acquaintances to help the rescue team track down the rebels holding Eliquin hostage.
Eliquin, the civil-military operations head of the 355th Engineering Unit of the Air Force based at Basa Air Base here, was abducted by some 30 heavily armed NPA guerrillas believed led by Larry Lozano, alias Ka Turi, of the NPA’s Lino Blas Command and Eduardo Ebuque, alias Ka Edu, of the Palermo Ortañez Command.
The military has filed charges against the NPA leaders.
Eliquin, together with three companions, was on his way to distribute relief goods to Aetas in the mountains of Barangay Mawakat when the rebels seized him. His companions were freed unharmed.
"There have been increasing skirmishes between the military and the rebels as a result of the pursuit operations," Monta said.
However, he said the NPA band holding Eliquin captive has remained elusive and has not given any word about him.
The Special Operations Wing of the Air Force has been coordinating with the 24th IB for the rescue operations.