LOCATION ID. 1001st Brigade Commander Col. Macairog Alberto reports on the capture of two soldiers in Monkayo town Compostela Valley province in a press conference Wednesday. Alberto assumed the command post last September 18. He says the location of the captured soldiers are already identified. (Ace R. Morandante)
DAVAO CITY – The Army on Wednesday said they already identified the location of the two soldiers captured by the New People’s Army in a checkpoint on September 30.
Col. Macairog Alberto, commander of the 1001st Brigade said they have pinpointed the locations and are continuing on their operations. Alberto however, refused to identify the areas.
“We have information, that’s why we are conducting operations in that area. Hindi ko masabi yung lugar pero we have identified the locations and tuloy yung aming operations dun (I cannot divulge where it s but we have identified it and our operations are ongoing),” said Alberto in a press conference.
The soldiers belong to the 25th Infantry Battalion and were identified as Private First Class Niño Alavaro and PFC Marjon Anover.
The two were captured at a checkpoint in Barangay Casoon, Monkayo.
In a statement, Aries Francisco, spokesperson of the NPA-Comval North Davao South Agusan Sub-regional Command said the two “came from the Army’s headquarters in Banlag, Monkayo and were en route to combat operations at the time of their capture, warranting the Red fighters to take action and arrest them.”
Francisco said they mounted the checkpoint “in response to the atrocities committed by the 25th IB (Re-engineered Special Operations Team).”
He said the Army troops “committed grave human rights violations in the villages when they ransacked several houses, encamped village centers, committed serious psychological warfare and arrested civilians on account of fake criminal charges.”
“It was the same Army unit which seized and tortured to death three Red fighters in Montevista, Compostela Valley last year,” Francisco added.
Meanwhile, the NPA assured that they will treat the captured soldiers humanely.
“In adherence to the protocols of war, the NPA custodial unit is duty-bound to treat the two Prisoners of War humanely and leniently while an investigating team subjects them to the judicial process under the tenets of revolutionary justice,” Francisco said.
Alberto said the checkpoint of the NPA was put up in an isolated area.
“The road is really difficult and our soldiers will have to ride habal-habal or skylab (an improvised motor that can carry more passengers),” said Alberto.
He said they already issued an instruction among their soldiers to avoid being captured or ambushed by their enemies. (davaotoday.com)
