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GENERAL LUNA, Siargao Island (MindaNews / 01 August) — Police stations in Surigao del Norte have been placed on red alert following the abduction of a police officer by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Friday morning.
Provincial police director Adolph Almendra issued the directive after a police officer of Sison Municipal Police Station was seized by alleged rebels in Barangay San Isidro in Sison town in Surigao del Norte.
Police Captain Giovanni Tindoy, the municipal poice chief, told MindaNews on Saturday morning that armed men snatched S/Sgt. Restie Dandan, 42, and brought him to a mountainous area in the town.
“We must be on alert and vigilant,” Almendra said, adding all police stations should also intensify intelligence operations to “monitor the movements and activities of the enemy in coordination of Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
Tindoy appealed to the captors not to hurt his colleague and to immediately set him free.
“I hope they will not hurt him and will release him immediately,” he said adding Dandan is a “soft target” as he lives in the interior part of the town, some 3.5 kilometers from the town center.
The NPA has not issued a statement on the abduction of Dandan. (Roel Catoto / MindaNews)