By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .
THE New People’s Army yesterday assured that rebels would respect the human rights of the two soldiers and 12 militiamen they captured in Agusan del Sur on Wednesday.
The assurance came even as a NPA group spokesperson confirmed that the captives were taken as “prisoners of war” by the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 21-B.
The NPA group’s spokesperson who identified herself as “Sandara Sindakan” said relatives of the soldiers and members of the Citizens’ Armed Forces Geographical Unit need not worry because the NPA has been treating the captives properly.
Sindakan said none of the captives has been harmed.
“Sa pagkakaron na-a sila sa maayong kahimtang sa kamot sa among mga kauban kay na-a man tay mga lagda nga ang tanang bihag, dili dagmalan,” Sindaka said.
The NPA has claimed a big victory in the capture of the soldiers and Cafgu members during a raid in a militia outpost in Sibagat in Agusan del Sur. It said the raid was carried out without a single shot or bloodshed.
The Army’s 401st Brigade has launched pursuit operations in the hope of saving the soldiers and the militiamen who were seized at the New Tubigon patrol base in Sibagat town at dawn on Wednesday.
Maj. Gen. Ronald Villanueva, commander of the 4th Infantry Diamond Division, said the rebels were under the NPA’s North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
The military said the two soldiers taken captive by rebels hold the ranks of corporal and private first class, respectively, and serve under the 3rd Special Forces Battalion under the 401st Brigade.
Authorities identified the soldiers as Cpl. Eric Manangan and Pfc. Darlino Carino.
“Tulog-tulog tingali ang atong mga sundalo ug Cafgu, mao nang naigo gyud sila,” Villanueva said.
He said the military has been relentless in its its anti-insurgency operations since the Armed Forces leadership declared that there would be no Yuletide ceasefire on the part of the government.
Villanueva said the military would step up operations as it anticipates more NPA activities ahead of the Dec. 26 anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
“Na-a didto naka-focus ang atong tropa kon asa sila mag-celebrate sa ilang anniversary,” he said.
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