NPAs rescue inmate from BJMP custody in Bukidnon, hostage 4 jail personnel
The NPA identified their captives as Jail Inspector Eric D. Llamasares (Ozamiz jail warden, of Philippine National Police Academy Class 2007), Jail Inspector Murphy B. Todyog (PNPA Class 2008), Special Jail Officer 2 Rogelio E.
Begontes and Jail Officer 1 Rolando D.
Bajuyo Jr.
J/Insp. Clint Russel Tangares, BJMP assistant regional director for administration, told MindaNews via text message that as of 5 p.m. today, they have received no word yet from the captors.
He said the perpetrators took four M16 rifles, six 9mm pistols and one caliber .38 revolver.
Reyes said the six BJMP personnel and seven other inmates who were left behind were able to proceed to Dapecol unharmed.
He said attackers held six vehicles in a checkpoint near the landslide site last weekend in Brgy. Kahusayan in Kitaotao. When it was the turn of the BJMP vehicle to be checked, the armed men told the passengers not to move as they only wanted the firearms.
But Rudinas volunteered that it was him whom the rebels were rescuing, Reyes said, quoting one of the BJMP personnel left behind by the NPAs.
Police Supt. Canilo A. Fuentes, Bukidnon police deputy director for operations, said the attack appeared to be a rescue operation for Rudinas who he identified as the finance officer of the NPA in Misamis Occidental.
Kitaotao Mayor Rudito Rafisura said in a telephone interview that he received no reports the attackers have entered upland communities in his town. He said he was assured by police that the motorists traversing the Bukidnon-Davao Highway will be kept safe and guarded.
The NPA said the BJMP vehicle carried seven other inmates and 11 jail personnel. “Two police officers assigned at the BJMP and two other BJMP-Ozamiz City jail officers were held and taken for questioning,” the rebels added. (With reports from H. Marcos C. Mordeno / MindaNews)
