NPAs Attempt to Kill Soldier, Took Children as Hostage

Camp Manuel T.Yan, Mawab Compostela Valley Province- Despite of the aftermath of Typhoon Pablo, seven (7) members of an Organized Crime Group believed to be affiliated to the New People’s Army flagged down Pfc Lito Masaluon while on his way back to detachment  in a motorcycle  together with his 12 year-old and 17 year-old children and another civilian. Failing to kill PFC Masaluon, the NPAs took the children instead as hostages in Sitio Danao, Brgy Mandalingan, Kapalong, Davao Del Norte, yesterday, Dec 09, 2012 at 9:30 A.M.

 

In an interview, Pfc Masaluon, assigned in Kimantaan detachment and  told that, he went to Brgy Datu Balong early morning to pick up a sack of rice and to fetch his two children then go back to the detachment. “ Naanod man ang among balay sa baha sa Kapalong,mao gi uban nako ang akong duha ka anak pabalik unta sa detachment,kay wala sila matulogan (Our house was washed out by the flashflood in Kapalong, that is why I brought my two children to the detachment supposedly, for shelter)”. Pfc Masaluon said.

 

Sitio Danao is more or less 5 kilometers away from Kimantaan Detachment. Pfc Masaluon added that the NPAs fired their rifle to him and his children.  Sensing that his children will be in danger if he is with them, Pfc Masaluon opted to divert the attention of the attackers in the opposite direction leaving his children. He ran to escape and to ask for help, but three NPAs followed him and continued firing at him. 

 

“This is the way they celebrate the International Human Rights Day, by kidnapping and attempting to murder soldiers whose lives were also affected by the typhoon. Instead of helping the people affected by Typhoon Pablo, they are there sowing violence.” LtCol Lyndon Paniza, 10^th Infantry Division Spokesperson said. “This manifests their continuous defiance to Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) agreement.” He added.

 

The 10^th Infantry Agila Division under the Eastern Mindanao Command will continue to exert effort in helping the victims of the typhoon Pablo thru humanitarian assistance together with the different sectors and stakeholders, but the AFP will not set aside this incident. A soldier, a father, is seeking help to rescue his two kidnapped children.