Alleged NPA rebel falls in Davao Sur

Army troops captured a suspected communist rebel following five days of fighting in Malita town in Davao del Sur province in Mindanao. Radio dzBB cited initial reports Tuesday identifying the captured New People's Army (NPA) rebel as Junior Agbang, a member of the NPA's Front Committee 71, who was captured in Manuel Peralta village. Government troops had linked Angbang to the kidnapping of a village chief and his brother last July. Last July, the NPA unit under Commander Warren released village chieftain Danilo Rosario and his brother Lito, a village councilor. The release followed negotiations between the NPA and about 500 supporters of the Rosario brothers in Manuel Peralta village in Malita town. The NPA accused the two brothers of abuses in the village, as well as their links to former Rep. Claude Bautista, who was linked to the murder of mayoralty candidate Isidro Sarmiento and his son Danilo during the last election period. Earlier, the brothers were accused of murdering seven civilians in Malita town in Davao del Sur. Last July 9, some 30 heavily armed NPAs barged into the house of the victim and seized them. Reportedly seized from the house were several weapons. - GMANews.TV