3 Police Officers and 2 Soldiers Captured by NPA Rebels as Prisoners of War

05 Apr 3 Police Officers and 2 Soldiers Captured by NPA Rebels as Prisoners of War

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Last April 3, Sunday, the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels conducted 10 roadblocks in several provinces in Mindanao, specifically in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Norte and held captives are 3 police officers and two soldiers.

Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) Warren Hansol Coñales was captured by the Moist guerillas at Sayre highway in Sitio Patulangan, Brgy Capitan Bayong, Impasug-ong impounding his .9mm pistol. This information was issued through a statement emailed by the NPA to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro on Sunday afternoon.

PO3 Edwin Panis Castor was captured at the roadblock in Wao Town in Lanao del Sur whom was assigned in a police station there together with retired police Orlando Maglipac Magamay who was later then released because of health considerations.

SPO4 Rene Rombo was captured at the rebels’ checkpoint in Talisayan, Misamis Oriental who is assigned at Kinoguitan Misamis Oriental municipal police station.

All in all, two .9mm pistols and a .45 pistol was confiscated during the roadblock by the rebels. Earlier, SPO1 Gilbert Aguiman was captured but then released after his child who was travelling with him begged to release him who is suffering from an illness.

Meanwhile, two members of the 23rd Infantry Battalion were seized by the rebels at Lower Olave, Buenavista town in Agusan del Norte. They were identified to be Private First Class Glenn Austia and Private First Class Diven Abion Tawide.

These mentioned captives are being considered by the NPA rebels as their Prisoners of War (POW).

The said simultaneous checkpoints of the rebels were aiming to implement the revolutionary policies on the conduct of the approaching May elections in achieving peaceful campaigns within NPA territories, according to Allan Juanito, spokesperson of NPA North Central Mindanao Region.

Now, Talisayan and Impasug-ong towns are being monitored by the PNP and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as under Election Watchlist areas (Ewas).

Surki Alday Sereñas, spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao, said that around 30 NPA members held each roadblock that lasted about 20 minutes. Motorists and passersby were then held on queue with their belongings reportedly being confiscated by the rebels.

Due to last Sunday’s roadblocks, police stations in nearby areas have been ordered to conduct checkpoints as the military is after the NPA guerillas.