NPAs Abduct Councilman, Woman in Agusan del Sur

From the Website of AFP links:  http://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/14-afp-data-articles/1172-npas-abduct-councilman-woman-in-agusan-del-sur NPAs Abduct Councilman, Woman in Agusan del Sur Published on Tuesday, 02 July 2013 15:35 Written by PAO, AFP CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is in hot pursuit of armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) after they abducted a woman and a village official, Sunday, June 30 in Agusan del Sur. About 5:00 AM that day, an undetermined number of NPAs swooped down Sta. Teresa, Loreto, Agusan del Sur. The group wearing civilian clothes and possibly carrying short firearms questioned residents of said town in search of a certain Kagawad Edgar Bantusan. Eventually, the group found Bantusan and hogtied him before boarding a single motorcycle bound to Sitio Cabuga in the same town. The armed men also took with them two women but one was eventually left in a nearby area of same town. After the abduction, some members of the group passed around leaflets containing Bantusan’s alleged offense to the group. They also accused him of being a military informant. Currently, the AFP through the combined elements of the 26th and 23rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army with elements of the Loreto police are conducting pursuit operations against the armed group in hopes of rescuing the abducted individuals and putting the criminals behind bars. Yesterday, the town’s Municipal Crisis Committee headed by Loreto Mayor, Dario E. Otaza and other concerned officials convened to discuss the actions to be taken regarding the abduction. The AFP condemns this recent violent activity by the NPAs. They have no right to conduct this violent act and cause panic to our innocent and peace-loving citizens. This act of abduction is a clear manifestation of the NPAs becoming more of a criminal organization resolving to desperate measures to further their atrocities. The AFP for its part is always ready to impose its forces shall it be needed, and exhaust all our efforts to put in the bars of justice, NPA members who are guilty of crimes against the people and the state. It is high time that the NPA rethink, and consider returning to the government fold than risk the lives of more innocent civilians just for the sake of their misled ideology. AFP Websites http://www.afp.mil.ph/ Links:   http://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/14-afp-data-articles/1172-npas-abduct-councilman-woman-in-agusan-del-sur OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS WEBSITES Human Rights Advocacy Promotions | Human Rights Home - Human rights Promotions Website http://www.humanrightspromotions.co.nr PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------