THE Philippine Army hit the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP–NPA) on Saturday, April 15, for not releasing the two soldiers they abducted in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat two months ago.
Army’s 10th Infantry Division spokesperson Rhyan Batchar identified the soldiers as Sergeant (Sgt.) Solaiman Calucop and Private First Class (Pfc.) Samuel Garay, who both belong to Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division.
“The NPA is living up to its name as a nuisance propaganda army by squeezing whatever publicity they can expand by not releasing Sgt. Calucop and Pfc. Garay despite the absence of any hindrance to release the soldiers,” Batchar said.
He said that since February 2, they did not conduct any military operation against the NPA for the safe release of the soldiers, adding that there is no reason to hold them further.
“We demand the NPA to immediately release our soldiers without any condition, as this is the only way to rectify the treacherous and insincere act of abducting our soldiers while the unilateral ceasefires are still in effect,” Batchar said.
Calucop and Garay, onboard a motorcycle, were on their way to the battalion headquarters when some 10 NPA rebels abducted them at Purok 7, Barangay Telafas in Columbio at 7:30 a.m. on February 2.
