Thursday, October 11, 2007 NPA vows to free hostages soon: Uy By Ben O. Tesiorna
COMPOSTELA Valley Governor Arturo "Chiongkee" Uy Wednesday said the New People's Army (NPA) promised to release their hostages soon.
Uy said a rebel called up a staff of Representative Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora telling him not to worry about the safety of Kanidkid barangay captain Glorieto Mahumas, Army Sergeant Raul Reyes, and the Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) member Rudy Villaflor.
It was not clear though if the three will be released altogether.
The governor readily appealed to the rebels to release their three hostages without any conditions.
"I am appealing to them to release the hostages without any conditions, for humanitarian reasons," Uy said.
The three were abducted by the rebels under Ka Jazzy of the Front Committee 3 last October 7.
The incident happened around 9 a.m. in Barangay Kanidkid, Montevista. The rebels reportedly introduced themselves as soldiers from the Army's 60th Infantry Battalion when they visited the residence of Mahumas.
The rebels then took hostage Mahumas and ordered the village chief to call for the Cafgu detachment commander and Sgt. Reyes. Upon arrival at Mahumas' residence, the rebels took hostage the two soldiers.
The group then went to the military detachment and took over the camp without a single shot fired after the rebels threatened to kill their hostages if the other soldiers would put up resistance.
The rebels, who also carted away about 15 firearms, then fled towards Barangay Banglasan on board an elf and a multicab vehicle along with the three hostages.
Latest reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that the three hostages were already separated from each other.
Aside from the three, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) agent Toto Gaila also remains under the custody of the rebels for more than two months now.
