DAVAO CITY – A band of about 50 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels seized a son and daughter in-law of the mayor of Loreto, Agusan del Sur last Saturday and demanded two long firearms for their release.
“The NPAs should be unmasked for what they really are – bandits and terrorists,” said Brig. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army’s 1001st Infantry Brigade, following the abduction of Rouel Magadan and his wife, Nimfa. Magadan is a son of Mayor Romeo Magadan Jr. of Loreto town.
The rebels led by a certain Ka Nolan of the NPA’s Front Committee 34 seized the couple on a board a van at a checkpoint they had put up in Sitio Cabuga, Barangay Sta. Teresa Saturday afternoon.
Holganza called on militant groups like Karapatan and Gabriela to denounce the abduction of the Magadan couple.
Rebels in Compostela Valley are still holding an Army sergeant captive, demanding that the military suspend its operations in four Compostela towns – Monkayo, Montevista, Laak and Nabunturan – and three others in Agusan del Sur – Loreto, Veruela and Sta. Josefa – before they release their hostage.
In a statement, Aris Francisco, spokesman of the NPA’s Alejandro Lanaja Command, said the release of Sgt. Raul Reyes would materialize soon should the military agree to their condition.
Reyes was snatched during an NPA raid on an Army detachment in Barangay Canidkid, Montevista town last Oct. 7.
The rebels also seized barangay captain Glorieto Mahumas and militiaman Rudy Villaflor, who were eventually freed last Oct. 14 after they were found to have committed no offenses against the rebel movement.
Francisco said the continuing military operations would only jeopardize the safe release of Reyes, which he said was being treated well according to war protocols and humanitarian laws.-With John Unson