Injured	Killed
1	0

Date: 26 October 2013
Source: Journal Online

SUSPECTED members of the New People’s Army (NPA)  abducted  six barangay officials, who were both lumads, the other day while a soldier was wounded during rescue operation in Bgy. Sabud, Loreto, Agusan del Sur.

The abducted victims were identified as Barangay Chairman  Lito Andalaque and councilmen Balaba Andalaque, Reynaldo Piodos, Marvin Bantuasan, Gina Bantuasan and Pepe Subia.

Taken to the hospital for treatment was Pfc. Joe Gil Cabillo.

The abduction occurred at around  7:30 a.m. in Bgy. Sabud, Loreto, Agusan del Sur.

The rebels belonging to Guerilla Front 34, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee led by an unknown commander, forcibly took the village officials to an unknown destination.

Elements of Charlie Company, 26th Infantry Battalion of Army’s 4th Infantry Division led by Cpl. Edmar B. Jumawan with 12 enlisted personnel encountered the rebels.

A 30-minute firefight immediately occurred, leaving one soldier injured.

The local government  of Loreto formed a crisis management team to address the situation while combined forces from Army’s 26th IB and Philippine National Police are conducting hot pursuit operation to arrest the suspects and safely rescued the victims as directed by AFP-Eastern Mindanao Command  (Eastmincom) commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III.

“This is another gross violation of the CARHRIHL by the NPA in attacking civilians. We are mandated to protect the people from the NPA harassments and intimidations,” Cruz said.