[wpgmappity id=”1478″]
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – Communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels released on Saturday noon two village officials in Malungon town in Sarangani Province, a day after they were abducted by the guerrillas.
Capt. Rey Balibagoso, spokesperson of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade based in Malungon, told reporters that the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 75 operating in Sarangani and Davao Del Sur set free in good physical condition Tirso Manambay and Baliota Tamalon of Barangay (village) San Juan.
Balibagoso said the rebels snatched the victims last Friday while they were conducting a meeting in their barangay.
“They were brought to Sitio Mahayahay, a hinterland village in the boundary of Malita, Davao Occidental. Good that they were released unharmed,” Balibagoso said.
The military official was suspecting that the NPA rebels planned to use as human shields the two victims as there is an ongoing military offensive operation in the area.
The military identified the leader of the group responsible for the abduction as a certain Manuel Garduque alias Dodong Sidlak, leader of Platoon Uno of the NPA Guerrilla Front 75.
The military urged the leftist group not to harm innocent civilians in their fight against the government.
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