Reds raid Surigao town cop station

BUTUAN CITY — Some 30 fully-armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels wearing military uniforms raided last Sunday the Lingig, Surigao del Sur police station and carted away 11 M-16 Armalite rifles, five assorted handguns and one Winchester shotgun.

Belated reports reaching the Caraga Regional Police Information Office at Camp Rafael Rodriguez here said the communist rebels, composed mostly of young NPA warriors, entered the town’s police station with Lingig Mayor Jimmy Luna in tow. Lingig policemen even reportedly gave their seats to Luna and his "bodyguards."

The rebels fled with the guns while Luna was released yesterday morning at the town plaza.

Lt. Col. Francisco Simbajon, fourth Infantry Division Philippine Army spokesman told The STAR that before raiding the police station, the rebels first raided Luna’s house in Poblacion Lingig.The rebels reportedly took four M-16 Armalite rifles and three M203s from Luna’s house security personnel.

"They then proceeded with Mayor Luna to the Municipal Hall on board the mayor’s car and two vans," Simbajon said.

The rebels fled towards Cantiil, Davao Oriental near the mountain ranges of Davao Oriental and Surigao del Sur.

Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon ordered military forces in northern Mindanao to hunt the rebels and recover the weapons to prevent the NPA from staging more armed operations. — With Roel Pareño, AP, AFP