Communist rebels posing as government troops have abducted five Philippine army soldiers on the outskirts of a southern city, the military said on Tuesday.
New People’s Army guerrillas wearing military uniforms stopped the soldiers aboard two motorcycles at a road block late on Monday outside Davao city, said local army spokesman Capt. Raul Villegas.
The soldiers in civilian attire were unarmed and on their way to the market to buy supplies for a community feeding programme, Capt. Villegas said.
The group’s team leader sensed that the gunmen manning the road block weren’t soldiers and jumped off the motorcycle and leapt into a ravine to escape, leaving his five comrades behind, he said.
The rebels usually release captured soldiers after determining they were not involved in human rights violations and other abuses. Arrangements are made with local officials, who coordinate a limited cease-fire with the military to allow the safe return of the captives to government representatives.
The rebels have been fighting in one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies. Talks to end the uprising have stalled for nearly two years due to disagreements between the two sides over the release of several jailed rebel leaders.
A rebel spokesman has recently said they were prepared to wait to resume negotiations with a new administration after President Benigno Aquino III leaves office in 2016.
