NPA rebels disarm mayor, police escorts
MANILA, Philippines - Suspected communist rebels dressed as policemen yesterday flagged down and disarmed a town mayor in Zamboanga del Sur and his police escorts, the military said.
Army reports said about 20 suspected rebels wearing the Special Action Forces uniform flagged down the vehicle of Pitogo Mayor Richard Garban in Barangay Mati in San Miguel town at about 6:40 a.m.
Cpt. Jefferson Somera, spokesman of the Army’s 1st division, said the suspected insurgents had carted two M16 rifles and two .45 caliber pistols from the mayor’s police escorts.
No one was hurt during the incident, which happened in front of the Mati Elementary School.
Somera noted that the New People’s Army Western Mindanao Regional Party is the communist unit operating in the area.
Authorities are now conducting pursuit operations against the suspected rebels.
The strength of the communist movement in the country stands at about 4,000 based on latest military estimates. - with reports from Dennis Carcamo and Roel Pareño
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