CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The military is bent on taking legal action against members of the New People’s Army (NPA), who abducted six civilians at the boundary of Bukidnon and Davao City on August 20, saying that the communist rebels violated the human rights of their captives.

The six were freed unharmed by the NPA on Tuesday and have rejoined their respective families after 53 days in the hands of the communist guerrillas in the hinterlands of Pakibato District, Davao City.

Col. Apolinario Alobba, deputy commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade based in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, said the release of the kidnapped civilians will not negate the criminal acts of the NPA.

“No matter how one sees it, the act [kidnapping] committed by the NPA was against the law. They violated the basic human rights of the ambulant peddlers who are supposed to be free to go wherever they want to in this country to make a living,” Alobba said.

He said regardless of the lack of cooperation from the victims, the military will continue with the filing of kidnapping and related charges against the NPA rebels.

During the presentation of the six to the media, they narrated how they were accosted in Sitio Lumiac by the NPA guerrillas under a certain Commander Parago, who accused them of being government spies. Their disappearance was made public after their relatives got worried when their loved ones failed to communicate with them and then asked for help from religious and nongovernmental organizations, and Misamis Oriental Vice Gov. Norris Babiera, who then led moves in locating the missing persons.

After determining the whereabouts of the six peddlers, concerned government agencies tried to negotiate for their release through a letter signed by the bishops of the different churches, Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno and Babiera, and  addressed to Luis Jalandoni, chairman of the National Democratic Front peace panel, who responded favorably to the appeal.