New People’s Army (NPA) rebels took advantage of the observance of All Souls' Day to disguise themselves as members of the Philippine Army’s Special Forces (SF) and abduct a soldier and ransacked a CAFGU detachment in Compostela Valley province.

10th Infantry Division (10ID) commander, Maj. Gen. Raynaldo Mapagu, said the NPAs abducted Army Cpl. Dominador Alegre at 6:30 p.m. last Monday at Barangay Casoon, Monkayo, Compostella Valley province.

The bandits took advantage of the observance of All Souls' Day when the CAFGU members left their detachment virtually unguarded to offer prayers for their departed relatives.

Mapagu said the rebels managed to get near the detachment in disguise as SF troopers. Once in the area, they immediately overpowered Alegre and used him to get inside the detachment.

The rebels then carted away two M-16 and one M-14 rifles, five Carbines, 10 Garand rifles, and a radio before escaping with Alegre in tow.

Alegre remains missing as of press time. (Elena L. Aben)