2 civilians taken by NPA rebels in Misamis Occidental rescued

PAGADIAN CITY–The two remaining civilians taken by retreating New People’s Army (NPA) rebels from Barangay Roxas in Aloran, Misamis Occidental had been rescued, Aloran Mayor Junipher Roa said Wednesday.

Roa did not name the rescued civilians but added that earlier, retreating NPA rebels took couple Renie and Aireen Ando, and Eljune Daragao.

He did not say who were rescued.

Lt. Col. Ryan Severo, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion, had earlier reported that one of the civilians – who were abducted from Barangay Roxas – was released by the rebels on Tuesday because of mobility problems.

“The victims were forcibly taken from their houses. One victim failed to catch up with the rebels’ movement, forcing them to leave him behind,” Severo said, also without identifying the released victim.

The rebels were fleeing pursuing soldiers following a clash in Barangay Sinampongan, also in Aloran on Sunday.

No casualty was reported on the government side but Severo said they
believed that some of the NPA rebels were injured or were even killed.

Major General Roseller Murillo, commander of the Joint Task Force Zampelan, blasted the rebels for “kidnapping innocent civilians for use as human shields as (it is) a crime against the International Humanitarian Law and a desperate act of cowards who care nothing about the welfare and safety of the people.”

He even likened the rebels to the Daesh-inspired Maute, which laid siege on Marawi City, on May 23./lb