The Police Regional Office – 11 (PRO-11) condemned the New People’s Army (NPA) for abducting a police officer in Davao Oriental last week.
PRO-11 acting public information officer Sr. Insp. Catherine dela Rey said Senior Police Officer (SPO) 2 George C. Rupinta who is the Municipal Executive Senior Police Officer of Lupon Municpal Police Station was abducted by the rebel group on June 10 “without any basis.”
This in contrary to the claim of NPA-Southern Mindanao spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez that Rupinta took by the 6th Pulang Bagani Company and the Guerrilla Front 18 of the NPA Subregional Operations Command as a prisoner and will face a trial reportedly for his “anti-people activities.”
“The statement of our Regional Director is SPO2 Rupinta was abducted by lawless elements who claimed to be NPA on trumped-up accusations. He is not a prisoner-of-war but a victim of kidnapping,” dela Rey said.
Dela Rey said that Rupinta has no records of abuses to the community in their town which was also vouched by their station commander Chief. Insp. Miguelito Cabahug.
“Siguro, na-tripan lang pud ni nila si SPO 2 Rupinta (Maybe, the NPA just abducted SPO2 Rupinta without any reason),” she said.
She said the Lupon Municpal Police Station is now coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to locate and possible rescue of Rupinta.
Based on police report, Rupinta was driving his motorcycle on June 9 but since then, he was not able to report on duty or even back home.
On the morning of June 10, a telephone call was received by the police station reporting an abandoned motorcycle in Purok Rosas, Barangay Langka, Lupon.
Upon verification it was confirmed that the motorcycle belonged to the victim.
