Cop kidnapped by NPA rebels released

TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan , Philippines — A police officer snatched by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Ilagan City, Isabela on Thursday was released over the weekend.

The NPA’s Reynaldo Piñon Command confirmed that they took Police Officer 2 Danilo Maur, whom they accused of escorting a shipment of illegally cut logs.

Superintendent Rafael Pagalilauan, Ilagan police chief, denied the allegations of the communist guerrillas, saying Maur was his intelligence officer, who was gathering information on a firefight in Sitio Kapaltatan when he was kidnapped.

Pagalilauan did not give details on the circumstances behind Maur’s release.

Meanwhile, a soldier was wounded in an encounter with NPA rebels in Barangay Sindon Bayabo also in Ilagan last week.

S/Sgt. James Pacupacy of the 502nd Infantry Brigade was brought to a private hospital, according to reports received by Maj. Gen. Perfecto Rimando of the 5th Infantry Division.

A soldier was killed as government troopers clashed with NPA rebels also in Ilagan last Thursday.