NPA raids private security firm, abducts soldier in Bukidnon

The military on Saturday condemned the abduction of an off-duty soldier by the New People’s Army (NPA) after a raid on a private security compound in Valencia City, Bukidnon, Friday evening, the military reported here. (Photo: Eugene Alvin Villar (seav)/ Wikipedia)

CAMP EVANGELISTA–The military on Saturday condemned the abduction of an off-duty soldier by the New People’s Army (NPA) after a raid on a private security compound in Valencia City, Bukidnon, Friday evening, the military reported here.

Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, the spokesperson of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said the unarmed soldier of the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion was riding a motorcycle with his wife when flagged down by the NPA disguised as members of the Philippine National Police.

Martinez identified the army soldier as Technical Sergeant Joseph Paredes, of the army’s 8IB based in Impasug- ong, Bukidnon.

He said that the armed men earlier stormed the security compound of Dasia Security Agency, a Davao-based security agency, in Juanilla Subdivision, Poblacion, Valencia City, Friday evening.

The NPA clad in PNP uniform took the agency’s firearms and stole some of their valuables and placed it inside the agency’s two armored vehicles sending panic among residents in the peaceful community, Martinez said.

As of press time, the PNP troops who are in pursuit successfully arrested the NPA informant, whose name is still being withheld, at his rented boarding house after his location was tipped-off by a concerned civilian in the area.

Recovered from his possession are subversive documents, four pieces chargers 1NVG Scope, a camouflage raincoat, sniper veil, surveillance eyeglasses, a black jacket, a jungle hammock, mountaineering pants, a pair of black gloves, five pieces of dry batteries, medical kits, and mobile phone.

The suspect is temporarily detained at Kalasag, Valencia City Police Station for proper disposition.

Martinez said the attack perpetrated by the NPA on a peaceful community showed the blatant display of “insincerity and callousness” of the communist rebels amid an ongoing peace talk with the government.

“We decry this another dastardly act committed by the NPA. We promise everyone that there will be no let up on our rescue operation to put pressure on the NPAs for them to immediately release our soldier and to put an end to the violence they committed in the area,” Major General Benjamin Madrigal, commander of the Army’s 4ID said.