NPA owns up to abducting 3 people in Oriental Mindoro

CITY OF CALAPAN – The New People’s Army (NPA) assumed responsibility for the brief “arrest” of three people, including a village chief, in Bansud town in Oriental Mindoro province on Friday evening.

On Sunday, Madaay Gasic, spokesperson of Lucio de Guzman Command of NPA-Mindoro identified Peter Delos Santos, Malo village chair, and village police chief Rocky Bueta as “military assets” whom their members arrested.

Delos Santos and Bueta were released at about 6:00 a.m. Saturday, just a few hours after they were allegedly abducted by armed men at around 8 p.m. Friday in Malo.

The third victim was Raymundo Malupa, an active member of the Citizen’s Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu).

Gasic denied they took the wife of Delos Santos, Ruth, as earlier reported by police.

He clarified their operation against persons suspected of being assets of the military and police was not related to the May 2019 elections.

“The three were accountable for counterrevolutionary activities, putting at risk civilian’s security and fundamental human rights,” Gasic said.

This includes the arrest of civilians whom they suspect to have connections with communist rebels who enter their village and data-gathering.

Gasic said they released Delos Santos and Bueta after investigation, as they admitted to what they had done and paying fees for their violation.

Meanwhile, Malupa is still being held and will undergo a judicial process, he added.

Gasic assured they would respect Malupa’s rights as a prisoner of war. /atm