DAVAO CITY—New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas swooped down on unsuspecting Army soldiers and militiamen manning a detachment in Compostela Valley late Monday, and took weapons and communication equipment and brought with them the detachment commander “for questioning.”

Both NPA and Army statements confirmed the early-evening Monday raid on the detachment manned by the Army-Civilian Armed Forces Geographic Unit (Cafgu) in barangay Casoon, Monkayo, Compostela Valley province, the seizure of 18 rifles and the abduction of the detachment commander, Cpl. Dominador Alegre, of the 72nd Infantry Battalion.

The NPA’s 4th Pulang Bagani Company owned up the raid on the detachment, which it said was in barangay New Kapatagan (formerly Km. 18 Casoon) in Monkayo at past 5 p.m. on Monday.

Ka Nadem, who claimed to be the spokesman for the NPA company, said the guerrillas “completely neutralized and swiftly disarmed the enemy forces assigned in the Army detachment.”

“Eighteen high-powered rifles were seized without a single shot being fired, since the surprised enemy personnel had lost the initiative and the will to fight,” he said in a statement.

Seized were 10 M-1 Garand rifles, five caliber .30 carbines, two M-16 rifles and one M-14 rifle. Also seized by the raiders were ammunition, military uniforms, backpacks, bandoliers and combat boots.

Cap. Emmanuel Garcia, chief of the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division public affairs office, also confirmed the seized weapons, as he criticized the “deception” used in attack.

“Reports reaching army headquarters in Davao City shows that unarmed Cafgu members were on their way to offer prayers for their departed loved ones in observance of the All Souls’ Day when a group of armed men in full military uniform who introduced themselves as soldiers accosted them outside the detachment.”

“The group took the Cafgu members back to the patrol base and held every body at gunpoint, including Corporal Alegre,” Garcia said.

Col. Eduardo del Rosario, commander of the Army’s 1003rd Infantry Brigade, said, “The deplorable acts of these terrorists in the midst of All Souls’ Day show their total disregard for the cultural and religious sensitivity of the Filipinos.”

“While the nation prays, these terrorists committed another crime against duly constituted authorities who are protecting our people and guarding peace-and-development projects in the province of Compostela,” he said.

The NPA rebels confirmed they were holding Alegre, who, they said, has serial number 781415, “for investigation.”

“The [NPA] command shall issue a statement concerning Cpl. Dominador Alegre soon,” the NPA said.