Rebels raid Agusan Sur mayor’s house

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines  – Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas raided the house of Sta. Josefa town Mayor John Roby Otero in Agusan del Sur on Saturday.

The rebels reportedly took three firearms from Otero’s house in Barangay Poblacion, said municipal Councilor Reynaldo Quijada.

Quijada said the rebels took a shotgun, a caliber .45 pistol and an unknown gun, all with licenses.

It was the second attack by the NPA on houses of municipal officials in the Caraga region.

Last June 8, suspected NPA rebels raided the house of Carmen town Mayor Ramon Calo, which is located across the municipal hall and the police station.

The rebels claimed they took five firearms from Calo’s house.

The attack on Otero’s house came after the military said that the NPA in Agusan del Sur is disintegrating.

“The attack on our mayor’s house was an NPA propaganda to show the military was wrong in its claims that the rebel movement is disintegrating,” Quijada said.