COTABATO CITY — Police launched pursuit operations against a band of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who abducted a top-ranking police official in President Roxas, North Cotabato, on Thursday night.
Supt. Benard Tayong, North Cotabato police spokesman, identified the abducted police officer as Inspector Menardo Cui Sr., deputy police director of President Roxas town.
Tayong said the victim was enjoying a huddle with friends at a restaurannt in the poblacion area at around 8:30 p.m. when the armed suspects barged in and spirited away Cui Sr. at gunpoint.
He said the abductors were heavily-armed, according to witnesses, prompting them to believe that Cui’s abductors were NPA members operating in the area.
Tayong refused to provide further comments citing it may jeopardize ongoing operations to rescue the victim. (Noel Punzalan/PNA)
