NPA rebels seize 3 soldiers, militiaman in Compostela

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  – New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas struck again, kidnapping three soldiers and a government militiaman in Mawab, Compostela Valley on Wednesday, just a day after they ambushed a convoy of Army soldiers escorting poll officers in neighboring Maragusan town.

Capt. Manuel Garcia, spokesman of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the soldiers were attending the birthday party of the three-year-old son of Cpl. Marcial Bawagan in Barangay Sawangan, Mawab town when they were seized.

The kidnapping took place just a day after four soldiers, an election officer and a poll watcher were killed and 12 others were wounded when the rebels fired at their convoy in Maragusan.

Garcia said Bawagan was visiting his family to attend the birthday of his son together with Corporals Ariel Asumo and Eduardo Alcala and militiaman Victor Pitogo when they were seized at gunpoint by the insurgents in Bawagan’s home.

The rebels reportedly belonged to the NPA’s Local Terrorist Front-27 believed to be also responsible for last Tuesday’s carnage in Maragusan.

Witnesses said Bawagan’s group was dragged into a waiting black van which sped away toward neighboring Barangay Sangab.

The rebels snatched Bawagan and his companions despite the protests of the corporal’s wife Jenny, who was carrying their son. The neighbors reportedly tried to comfort the couple’s three other children.

Compostela Valley Gov. Arthur Uy described the incident as a “barbaric” and grossly inconsiderate act of the communist guerrillas.

The Commission on Human Rights, meanwhile, condemned the NPA ambush, saying it was “a clear and unmistakable violation of human rights and the International Humanitarian Law.” – With Michael Punongbayan and Alexis Romero