NPA men abduct 30th IB trooper in Surigao Del Norte

MANILA –New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have abducted a member of the 30th Infantry Battalion working as a member of a peace and development team in Alegria town, Surigao Del Norte Sunday afternoon.

No motive was given for the abduction of Pfc. Erwin R. Salan, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.

Padilla said Salan was abducted at 3:40 p.m. in Barangay Budlingin in Alegria by around 15 armed men identified to be members of the New People’s Army’s Sandatahan Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) – Lumad, Front Committee 16, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) under the leadership of Florencio Llano alias “Ricky”.

He added the trooper was with youth volunteers and they had just finished a clean-up drive in the vicinity of Lumondo Falls, a popular tourist destination in the area, and were heading back to Barangay Budlingin when stopped by the rebels who then grabbed and tied up Salan.

Meanwhile, 30th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Rico Amaro urged the rebels to release the abducted trooper unharmed.

“We fully commit ourselves to peace; we support the peace talks and peace process; we have high hopes that the leadership of Guerrilla Front 16 also has this commitment for the benefit of every Surigaonon. It is not too late to rethink their action, we appeal in the name of peace, for the release of our comrade,” he added.