NPAs disarm, take hostage 6 military intel operatives

ZAMBOANGA CITY ,Philippines  – Communist rebels wearing military uniforms and media vests disarmed and took hostage six Armed Forces intelligence personnel but subsequently released them in Bayug, Zamboanga del Sur yesterday morning, authorities said.

One of the intelligence operatives, who escaped during the incident, has been reported missing though, said Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command.

Cabangbang said the intelligence personnel, including a retired Army soldier, two officers, two enlisted personnel and a militiaman from the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade and 53rd Infantry Battalion, were cruising Barangay Guinoman, Bayug town onboard a Mitsubishi Strada when they were flagged down at around 7:25 a.m. by an estimated 30 to 40 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

The military agents, Cabangbang said, were headed to Balabag, another barangay in Bayug, for an intelligence mission when they were accosted.

The guerrillas divested the military intelligence personnel of their firearms, including three M-16s, one M-14, five caliber .45 pistols, and one 9-mm pistol.

The government troopers were subjected to interrogation but one of them, a junior officer, managed to escape but was chased by the rebels and has been reported missing.

Cabangbang said the five other military agents were freed after the questioning but the rebels burned their vehicle before retreating toward Barangays Pulang Bato in Bayug town and Guinuman in Diplahan, Zam­boanga Sibugay.

He said the five eventually reached the military detachment in Barangay Guinuman. A search was launched for their missing colleague.