THE New People's Army (NPA) abducted a soldier and disarmed a group of militiamen in the hinterlands of Compostela Valley province, military officials said Tuesday.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, public affairs director of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, said the incident took place around 6:30 p.m. Monday in the village of Casoon, Monkayo town.

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Garcia identified the abducted soldier as Corporal Dominador Alegre of theArmy's 72nd Infantry Battalion and assigned as cadre of the militia force in Casoon village.

Garcia said Alegre and members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) were on their way to offer prayers to 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 halted them.

The NPAs accosted Alegre and the militiamen back to the patrol base in Casoon and held everybody at gunpoint, Garcia said.

He said the NPAs carted away two M-16 Armalite rifle, one M-14, five Carbines, 10 Garand rifles and a two-way hand-held radio transceiver.

He said the NPAs have taken Alegre in custody when they fled from the patrol base in Casoon.

Colonel Eduardo del Rosario, chief of the Army's 1003rd Infantry Brigade, lambasted the latest atrocity perpetrated by the communist rebels in Mongkayo town.

Del Rosario said the deplorable acts of the NPAs in the midst of All Souls' Day show their total disregard to the cultural and religious sensitivity of the Filipinos.

"While the nation prays, they committed another crime against duly constituted authorities who are protecting our people and guarding peace and development projects in the province of Compostela," he added. (Bong Garcia)