Army: 3 hurt in NPA raid on Bukidnon city jail

MANILA, Philippines - Three people were hurt while several firearms were carted away Wednesday when an undetermined number of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels raided a city jail in southern Philippines, an Army official said. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the raid occurred at about 4:30 p.m. at the Malaybalay City Jail in Bukidnon province. He said those wounded were a labor, an inmate, and a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel. He did not identify the victims. The rebels, which he described as fully armed, were onboard two multi-cabs and one container van. Brawner said the rebels took with them three M16 rifles, one 9mm and 1 cal .45 pistols. The raid happened a day after suspected NPA rebels raided a mining company in Davao Oriental and burned P2 million worth of equipment. Police reports reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City said more or less 20 fully armed suspects barged inside the Phil Youbang Staff House and Stockyard located at Barangay (village) Tagbinunga in Mati City at about 6 a.m. and set fire to three Payloader units and one Backhoe units. The military has pegged the current NPA strength at 5,239. - GMANews.TV