The Philippine National Police (PNP) will conduct an investigation into the alleged abduction of two environment activists who claimed in a press briefing that the kidnapping was perpetrated by soldiers and policemen.

But PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. said there were indications that the two activists, Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro, were already convinced to join the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

“The first information that we received about them was from their parents and from what we believe, they were brainwashed and given some indoctrination,” said Acorda.

Tamano and Castro were reported missing in Bataan last month. The military earlier said that the two were already under its custody as it denied the abduction.

But right in the press conference by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the two insisted that they were indeed abducted by soldiers.

They also denied that they surrendered and said they were forced to do so through a statement.

But Acorda maintained that Tamano and Castro were already brainwashed: “On the part of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we stand our ground that these two students who went missing were really convinced to join (the communist rebels).”

He, however, said that investigation will still be conducted since there were allegations from Tamano and Castro themselves that they were kidnapped.

“They are of legal age and that they also have rights need to be protected. So the PNP will do what it is mandated to do. So let’s see what would come out of the investigation,” said Acorda.