DAVAO CITY, Philippines —Suspected members of the New people’s Army abducted a police officer in the municipality Lupon, Davao Oriental last Friday, June 9.
Police regional command spokesperson Sr. Inst. Catherine dela Rey named the police officer as Senior Police Officer (SPO) 2 George C. Rupinta, 52, who is the Municipal Executive Senior Police Officer of Lupon Municipal Police Station.
Capt. Andrew Linao, the civil-military operations officer (CMO) of 701ST Infantry Brigade said now under the custody of NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 6.
The PBC 6 is being led by alias Jeg and alias Doy. He was last seen in Sitio Maragdao, Barangay Maragatas, still in Lupon.
Linao said Rupinta was believed to be under PBC 6 and section committee 18 under Alias Jeg and Alias Doy.
Dela rey said the regional command condemned the abduction and described it as “without basis.”
The rebels Southern Mindanao spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez in a statement said the 6th Pulang Bagani Company and the Guerrilla Front 18 of the NPA Subregional Operations Command took Rupinta as a prisoner and will face a trial reportedly for his “anti-people activities.”
But Dela Rey said “The statement of our Regional Director is SPO2 Rupinta was abducted by lawless elements who claimed to be NPA on trumped-up accusations. He is not a prisoner-of-war but a victim of kidnapping,” dela Rey emphasized.
Dela Rey said that Rupinta has no records of abuses to the community in their town which was also vouched by their station commander Chief. Insp. Miguelito Cabahug.
She added “Siguro, na-tripan lang pud ni nila si SPO 2 Rupinta (Maybe, the NPA just abducted SPO2 Rupinta without any reason),” she said.
The Lupon Municpal Police Station is now coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to locate and possible rescue of Rupinta.
Based on police report, Rupinta was driving his motorcycle with plate number LT 7453 on June 9 but since then, he was not able to report on duty or even back home.
On the morning of June 10, a telephone call was received by the police station reported an abandoned motorcycle in Purok Rosas, Barangay Langka, Lupon.
Upon verification it was confirmed that the motorcycle belonged to the victim.-Armando B. Fenequito Jr./Newsline.ph
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