SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews / 26 July) Three policemen and a non-uniformed police worker were abducted by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in a cockpit arena in Malimono town in Surigao del Norte Sunday afternoon.
Police identified the victims as SPO3 Santiago Lamanilao, PO3 Jayroll Bagayas, PO2 Caleb Senaca, and non-uniformed police worker Rodrigo Angob.
Lamanilao is currently assigned at the Surigao City Police Office while the rest are with the Malimono Municipal Police Office.
Based on police reports, the victims were taken by 10 armed men wearing military uniforms at the cockpit in Barangay Cagtinae.
The rebels took the victims to the mountainous areas of Malimono.
Rino Cuevas Colaste Sr., also known as “Ka Oto,” the spokesperson of Front Committee 16 of the New People’s Army, told MindaNews over mobile phone Monday that they are responsible for the abduction of the police officers.
“We are behind the abductions of the cops and they are now under the custodial force of the red armies,” he said.
Ka Oto said they have only one target among the four – PO2 Caleb Senaca, whom he said is facing charges before the “people’s court.” Senaca, the rebel leader claimed, is involved in illegal drug syndicates, illegal logging, and land grabbing.
Senaca is the nephew of former Malimono Mayor Teodoro Senaca Jr., and the first cousin of Wallace Senaca, the current mayor of the town.
On Nov. 12, 2014, PO1 Junrie Amper was also abducted by NPA rebels in Malimono and was freed two months after. He was released along with four other cops who were kidnapped separately in Alegria town, also in Surigao del Norte. (Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews)