Missing militants alive, Army says as covert rescue plot up
Two missing militants identified by government forces with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) are reportedly alive and being held ‘custody’ by comrades in a New People’s Army (NPA) den.
As such, soldiers of the Philippine Army here are coordinating efforts with the Philippine National Police to effect a “rescue” as soon as possible.
This, as charges and counter-charges from the government side and supporters of militant groups heighten, blame falling on both camps.
From a reported ambush and slay try credited to the government, the incident has since developed as well into a “purging, kidnap-me” ploy by the CPP hierarchy and party’s political cadres.
And it has to be “really soon,” Army Captain Lowen Gil Marquez told The News Today (TNT) following latest intelligence reports from civilian informants that the two “subjects” will be moved outside Panay Island.
Initial exit areas are said to be undisclosed CPP-NPA hide-outs in Masbate, Negros Occidental or Mindoro with the clandestine exit plan said to be via a small banca or pumpboat expectedly during nighttime.
The Army is calling for community support should any sightings of the group be made particularly in coastal areas of Iloilo, Antique and even Aklan.
“We appeal to the public to be vigilant and alert our Army or the police on any suspicious activity like a group leaving via a banca or pumpboat at night or requests made for a private transport,” Captain Marquez said. “We have information that this is how they will get out of Panay Island and so we are working to get the two activists so the public will know what really happened and is happening here.”
Marquez pointed to Iloilo’s northern towns and coastal areas down south as possible exit points of the group.
For its part the the left-leaning militant groups have since pointed to the military as behind the attack on three of its members recently.
Same with the CPP which in an emailed press release has reportedly ordered its armed wing, the NPA to arrest and hold accountable members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines believed to be behind attacks against left-wing militants.
“Local units of the NPA should identify the specific AFP units and their commanding officers and higher-ups responsible for these brutal murders and abductions. They must be arrested and made to answer for their fascist crimes," the Communist Party of the Philippines said in an e-mailed statement signed by its media officer, Marco Valbuena.
Human rights activist Jose Ely Garachico and his companions Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay chairperson Nilo Arado and SELDA member Ma. Luisa Posa Dominado were waylaid by unidentified armed men while on board a pick-up in Brgy. Cabababan, Oton last April 12.
A gunman shot Garachico, hitting him in the nape. He was left for dead in the highway. Then the gunmen forcibly took Arado and Dominado. Police have no suspects yet, nor information on the condition or whereabouts of Arado and Dominado.