Cop seized by suspected communist rebels in North Cotabato

MANILA, Philippines—Following the successful escape of two cops seized in Agusan del Sur by suspected members of the New People’s Army, another policeman was abducted in North Cotabato, police said Friday.

Chief Superintendent Charles Calima, Region 12 police director, identified the abducted policeman as Police Officer 3 Maula Ali, an officer assigned to Arakan police station.

He said Ali was onboard an Elf truck with his wife and 30 other people on their way to their farm when they were flagged down by the group of 30 men along Crossing Tinayong, Barangay (village) Datu Sundungan in President Roxas, North Cotabato around 6 a.m.

In a separate interview, Senior Superintendent Danilo Peralta, North Cotabato police director, said Ali’s group was inspected for firearms, and were eventually given a go-ahead ignal to leave until one of the suspects suddenly identified Ali as an Arakan cop.

“So walang intention na kunin sya, nagkataon lang na may nakakilala sa kanya,” Peralta said, noting that Ali didn’t have an ID and service firearm with him during the abduction, as he was currently on sick leave after suffering from hypertension.

He said Ali may have probably been taken somewhere in Bukidnon.

Authorities have launched an operation to rescue Ali, Peralta said.

Last Sunday, two policemen—Police Officer 2 Allan Ronald Munez and Police Officer 1 Nemuel Espana—were also abducted in Agusan del Sur, but managed to escape from their captors Thursday after getting hold of an AK47 which Munez used to shoot their abductors.