Reds free 2 militiamen in Agusan Norte

REMEDIOS ROMUALDEZ TRINIDAD, Agusan del Norte – Two members of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit snatched by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay San Antonio in this town on Dec. 22 were released in Barangay Tagbongabong yesterday.

Reginal Keim, 21, and Bernabe Salahay, 50, of the 29th Infantry Battalion were turned over to third party facilitators, mostly church leaders.

Joaquin Jacinto, spokesman for the National Democratic Front in Mindanao, said eight other militiamen and two soldiers snatched by communist guerrillas would also be released.

Last week, NPA rebels released six militiamen they seized in Sibagat, Agusan del Norte.

The captives were among 12 government troopers snatched while sleeping at a military detachment in Barangay New Tubigon on Dec. 19.

The military said the release of the victims was due to the pressure of relentless military operations.