Reds hold Agusan town mayor, disarm escorts

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Suspected communist rebels on Friday briefly held an Agusan del Sur town mayor and disarmed his bodyguards, belated reports reaching the Caraga police information office said. The report said more or less 30 heavily armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels flagged down the pick-up truck carrying Loreto town mayor Romeo Magadan Jr at the boundary of San Isidro and San Mariano village and asked his four police escorts to surrender their firearms. The rebels were able to cart-away one unit M16 rifle, one unit KG9 Rifle, a 380 pistol and a .45 cal pistol. Also taken by the rebels were unit magazine for M16 rifle and assorted ammunitions. Four of the rebels were identified as Kumander Bing, Kumander Zoren, Dandy Casal and Tagalog Casal. The report said the rebels released Magadan’s group after warning them on the alleged rampant illegal activities in the area. Loreto municipal police is now conducting investigation of the incident. - Alvin Guanzon, GMANews