DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas seized an Army trooper in San Luis town in Agusan del Sur on Saturday.
The Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command said at least 30 rebels, including five women, seized Cpl. Adriano Bingil of the 26th Infantry Battalion.
The rebels were reportedly led by a certain alias Cai of the NPA-North Central Mindanao regional committee.
The unarmed Bingil was on a motorcycle driven by village councilman Reneboy Galino when the rebels pulled them over in Barangay Policarpio at around 9 a.m.
The rebels did not harm Galino.
Bingil was part of a team of soldiers deployed for a peace outreach mission in nearby Barangay Mahagsay.
The team was facilitating the entry of government services and protecting the villagers from harassment. – With Alexis Romero