NPA frees barangay exec

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – The New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas who snatched six barangay officials and a civilian volunteer officer in Loreto town, Agusan del Sur last Thursday released one of their captives to send their demands to the authorities.

Barangay councilor Ma. Gina Bantuasan of the village of Sabud conveyed the rebels’ demands to Mayor Dario Otaza.

Bantuasan told the crisis committee, which Otaza heads, that the rebels want the deactivation or resignation of the 50 new members of the government militia, and the pull-out of a team of Army soldiers involved in the community peace and development efforts in the town.

The committee was unfazed by the rebels’ demands and decided to continue with the combat operations against the NPA.

The committee expressed confidence that the military forces would be able to catch the rebels who kidnapped the barangay officials.