[PhilStar] Six members of the Civilian Armed Auxiliaries kidnapped by New People’s Army militants in Agusan del Norte last year were released on Thursday. The Eastern Mindanao Command identified the militiamen as Jurian Gaviola, Marson Iligan, Bienvinido Lamion, Eddie Tindoy, Sanny Malobay and Hermito Iligan.Joaquin Jacinto, National Democratic Front spokesman for Mindanao, led the turnover of the captives to third party facilitators in Barangay San Juan, Sibagat. The captives were later turned over to local government and military officials.
Eastmincom commander Felimon Santos said the release of the captives was due to the relentless pressure of recent military operations.
The six militiamen were among 12 government troops seized while sleeping at a military detachment in Sibagat on December 19. Two other militiamen were kidnapped in San Antonio, Doña Remedios Trinidad in Agusan del Norte on December 22.
In Bukidnon, two soldiers were killed while another was injured in an NPA attack in Barangay Dalwangan, Malaybalay on Thursday night.
Malin Mabini, spokesman for the NPA-Northern Central Mindanao Regional Command, claimed they took seven high-powered firearms from the soldiers. Mabini said three of their combatants were also killed in the clash.