Soldier, Cafgu seized

COMMUNIST rebels seized a soldier and a militiaman Sunday afternoon at Crossing Pising, Purok Dalia, Barangay Buso, Mati City, Davao Oriental.

In a police report provided by Police Regional Office (PRO 11) spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz, it said that the abduction incident happened around 5:30 p.m. on June 10.

She also identified the kidnapped government troopers as Corporal Johannes D. Pareño of the Philippine Army, who was assigned at “A” company of 28th Infantry Battalion (IB), and Cafgu Active Auxiliary (CAA) Dindo Sagayno assigned at “B” Company 72nd IB based at Taguipo ACP, Barangay Taguipo, Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Based on the report, the two were going to Barangay Taguipo onboard a habal-habal motorcycle when flagged down and abducted by more or less 20 New People’s Army (NPA) members.

The rebels are believed to be under Pulang Bagani Company (PBC 6) South-

ern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) led by alias Jeg.

The troops under the 28th IB and 701st Infantry Brigade (IBde) are conducting operation to rescue their colleagues.

A move to revive the peace negotiations between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines- National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)-New People’s Army (CPP-NDFPNPA) is set to begin by midJuly as announced by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I’m talking to Sison. We will start the talks, maybe midJuly,” Duterte said in a speech delivered on Thursday night.

Formal peace talks between the government’s peace negotiators and communists’ NDFP consultants are expected to resume as soon as the interim peace agreement is signed by both parties.