Army official condemns abduction of soldiers in Cotabato

An army official on Saturday condemned the abduction of two soldiers and a civilian in North Cotabato by New People's Army's (NPA) rebels as a breach of confidence-building efforts between the government and the National Democratic Front, following their agreement to resume stalled peace talks last February. “This is a criminal offense perpetrated by the communist terrorists... The NPA [is] not serious in the peace process because they still resort to terroristic activities like kidnapping," said Lt. Manuel Gatus, chief of the civil military operations of the 57th IB of the Philippine Army. The kidnapped soldiers were identified as Corporal Delfin Sarocam and Private First Class Jayson Valenzuela, both members of the 57th Infantry Battalion. The abducted civilian is former Barangay Datu Puas Inda councilor Eliory Lastimosa, the army reported. The three victims were kidnapped in President Rojas town on Thursday while they were on their way to a dialogue with residents of Sitio Dalinding in barangay Datu Puas Inda. They were believed to have been taken to a rebel camp either in Arakan or Antipas towns in North Cotabato. Gatus said the army would not allow similar acts by the rebels to continue while talks between the government and NDF are going on. The NDF has yet to release a statement about the incident. — Malu Cadelina Manar/BC/YA, GMA News