TEARS FOR THE CAPTIVES. Relatives of a police officer and soldier held captive by communist rebels since Sunday cry as they appeal for help and for the New People’s Army to spare their husbands. At left is Annali Coñales, wife of SPO1 Warren Coñales who was seized in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, and at right is Judith Quinsay, a sister of Pfc. Glen Autria who was abducted in Agusan del Norte. (PHOTOS BY NITZ ARANCON)
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By Gerald Leigh Laquinon
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents

TWO soldiers were killed while five others were wounded in counterattacks carried out by rebels being pursued by government troops in Caraga, the New People’s Army (NPA) claimed yesterday.

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In a statement, NPA spokesman for northcentral Mindanao Allan Juanito said a soldier from the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion was killed following an NPA attack in Lower Olave, Buenavista town in Agusan del Norte this week.

He said the 23rd IB sent reinforcement troops but rebels greeted them with a bomb in the adjacent village of Sangay in Buenavista, killing one soldier and wounding three others.

Juanito’s claims came a day after rebels exploded bombs against assaulting soldiers from the 8th Infantry Battalion in Manalog, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon the other day. Two soldiers, identified as Pfcs. Alden dela Cruz and Jessie Lumayaga, were hurt as a result of an explosion during the Malaybalay encounter resulted, said Army Capt. Lorenzo Siobal, spokesman for the 403rd Infantry Brigade.

Juanito said after the NPA seized police officers and soldiers in Bukidnon, Malaybalay amd Agusan del Norte last weekend, the 4th Infantry Division mobilized 14 columns across 22 villages in Agusan del Norte, seven villages in Eastern Misamis Oriental, two in Mt. Kitanglad and seven in south central Bukidnon to pursue the guerrilla forces.

“But until now, they have not scored against any NPA member or rescued a prisoner of war,” said Juanito.

The NPA also claimed that rebels attacked two command posts of the 23rd Infantry Battalion in Tama, Magsaysay town, Misamis Oriental, and in Sitio Pag-aw, Hagimitan, Nasipit in Agusan del Norte. It said there were no casualties.

Juanito said that on Wednesday afternoon, an NPA group “harassed” a road security unit of a politician who was about to campaign in Sitio Lantad, Kibanban, Balingasag town in Misamis Oriental.

Rebels earlier warned politicians against bringing armed escorts in NPA-influenced areas, and to seek permission first.

For his part, Siobal accused rebels of engaging in extortion activities. He said this was the motive behind the abductions and the rebels’ show of force.

“The politicians should not yield to the demands of these bandits. In doing so, you are killing your soldiers,” Siobal said.

Rescue and pursuit operations of the 4th ID and the National Police were launched while negotiations for the release of the five captives are being organized by third party facilitators and a local crisis management committee.

Meanwhile, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano is sceduled to convene the Misamis Oriental crisis committee to day to map out plans in securing the release of one of the captives, SPO4 Rene Rombo, who was seized in Barangay Mandahilag, Talisayan, Misamis Oriental on Sunday.

Emano has asked Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop Felixberto Calang, Roman Catholic Archbishop Amtonio Ledesma, town officials, police and military, human rights advocates to help.

At the IFI in the city on Wednesday, relatives of the captives sought the help of Calang.

Vilma Rombo, wife of SPO4 Rombo, and Annali Coñales, wife of SPO1 Warren Coñales, called on the NPA to free their husbands. Rombo and Coñales were seized by rebels in Talisayan in Misamis Oriental and Impasug-ong in Bukidnon on Sunday.

Crying, Ms. Coñales said she was very worried because her husband is diabetic who needs medication daily.

Judith Quinsay, a sister of Pfc. Glen Autria whp was captured in Agusan del Norte, also broke into tears as she appealed to the NPA to free her brother for the sake of their ailing mother.

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